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Nguyen MK, Rakib MRJ, Lin C, Hwangbo M, Kim J. Is micro(nano)plastic contamination in wet atmospheric deposition a prominent issue requiring heightened attention? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135027. [PMID: 38925051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Minh-Ky Nguyen
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City, Hamlet 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Md Refat Jahan Rakib
- Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Myung Hwangbo
- School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States
| | - Jongsun Kim
- School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78520, United States.
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Lin H, Li X, Hu W, Yu S, Li X, Lei L, Yang F, Luo Y. Landscape and risk assessment of microplastic contamination in farmed oysters and seawater along the coastline of China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134169. [PMID: 38565022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a significant threat to marine ecosystem and seafood safety. However, comprehensive and comparable assessments of MP profiles and their ecological and health in Chinese farming oysters are lacking. This study utilized laser infrared imaging spectrometer (LDIR) to quantify MPs in oysters and its farming seawater at 18 sites along Chinese coastlines. Results revealed a total of 3492 MPs in farmed oysters and seawater, representing 34 MP types, with 20-100 µm MP fragments being the dominant. Polyurethane (PU) emerged as the predominant MP type in oysters, while polysulfones were more commonly detected in seawater. Notably, oysters from the Bohai Sea exhibited a higher abundance of MPs (13.62 ± 2.02 items/g) and estimated daily microplastic intake (EDI, 2.14 ± 0.26 items/g/kg·bw/day), indicating a greater potential health risk in the area. Meanwhile, seawater from the Yellow Sea displayed a higher level (193.0 ± 110.7 items/L), indicating a greater ecological risk in this region. Given the pervasiveness and abundance of PU and its high correlation with other MP types, we proposed PU as a promising indicator for monitoring and assessing the risk MP pollution in mariculture in China. These findings provide valuable insights into the extent and characteristics of MP pollution in farmed oysters and seawater in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huai Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Wenjin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Shenbo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Liusheng Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Fengxia Yang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Tural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China.
| | - Yi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
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Jarosz K, Borek-Dorosz A, Drozdek M, Rokicińska A, Kiełbasa A, Janus R, Setlak K, Kuśtrowski P, Zapotoczny S, Michalik M. Abiotic weathering of plastic: Experimental contributions towards understanding the formation of microplastics and other plastic related particulate pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170533. [PMID: 38307281 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The increasing use of plastic (synthetic polymers) results in the release of uncontrollable amounts of synthetic materials into the environment through waste, infrastructure, and essential goods. As plastic materials undergo weathering, a complex process unfolds, leading to the formation of pollutants, notably microplastics. This study employs multiple instrumental methods to explore the intricate abiotic degradation of the five most commonly used synthetic polymers in environmentally relevant conditions. An extensive set of analytical techniques, along with chemometric analysis of the results of Raman spectroscopy, was used to characterize the materials and evaluate the nature and extent of degradation caused by artificial weathering under temperature, humidity, and solar-like irradiation cycles. Investigation focuses on the link between abiotic weathering and the generation of micro- and nanoplastics, accompanied by molecular and surface adhesion changes, and the release of additives such as metals and metal oxides. Research reveals that microplastics may exhibit varied physical properties due to the incorporation of significant quantities of high-density additives from the parent plastic, which might influence the extraction methods and the transportation models' accuracy. At the molecular and microscopic scales, non-homogeneous pathways through which plastic decomposes during weathering were observed. The formation of additive-polymer combinations might play a pivotal role in the monitoring approaches for microplastics, presenting unique challenges in assessing the environmental impact of different plastic types. These findings offer complex insight into abiotic weathering, microplastics' generation, and the influence of additives that were previously overlooked in toxicity and health assessment studies. As plastic pollution continues to escalate, understanding these complex processes is crucial for microplastic monitoring development and adopting effective preventative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Jarosz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | | | - Marek Drozdek
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Anna Rokicińska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Kiełbasa
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; Jagiellonian University, Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, ul. Prof. St. Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Rafał Janus
- Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Kinga Setlak
- Faculty of Material Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Jana Pawła II 37, 31-864 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kuśtrowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Szczepan Zapotoczny
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Marek Michalik
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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Aguirre-Sanchez A, Purca S, Cole M, Indacochea AG, Lindeque PK. Prevalence of microplastics in Peruvian mangrove sediments and edible mangrove species. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116075. [PMID: 38335630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove ecosystems have been hypothesised as a potential sink of microplastic debris, which could pose a threat to mangrove biota and ecological function. In this field-study we establish the prevalence of microplastics in sediments and commercially-exploited Anadara tuberculosa (black ark) and Ucides occidentalis (mangrove crab) from five different zones in the mangrove ecosystem of Tumbes, Peru. Microplastic were evident in all samples, with an average of 726 ± 396 microplastics/kg for the sediment, although no differences between the different zones of the mangrove ecosystem were observed. Microplastic concentrations were 1.6± 1.1 items/g for the black ark and 1.9 ± 0.9 microplastics/g for the mangrove crab, with a difference in the microplastic abundance between species (p < 0.05), and between the gills and stomachs of the crab (p < 0.01). Human intake of microplastics from these species, for the population in Tumbes, is estimated at 431 items per capita per year. The outcomes of this work highlight that the mangrove ecosystem is widely contaminated with microplastics, presenting a concern for the marine food web and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Aguirre-Sanchez
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Biología Marina, Laboratorio de Ecología Marina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
| | - Sara Purca
- Área Funcional de Investigaciones Marino Costeras (AFIMC), Dirección General de Investigaciones en Acuicultura (DGIA), Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE), Callao, Peru
| | - Matthew Cole
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Aldo G Indacochea
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Biológicas, Biología Marina, Laboratorio de Ecología Marina, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Penelope K Lindeque
- Marine Ecology & Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom
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Pop V, Ozunu A, Petrescu DC, Stan AD, Petrescu-Mag RM. The influence of media narratives on microplastics risk perception. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16338. [PMID: 37933256 PMCID: PMC10625762 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Media are the interface between scientists and citizens, communicating and interpreting the risk message and powerfully influencing individual awareness, public debate, and, hence, people's behavior. Pollution by microplastics (MPs), a threat to public health and terrestrial and marine ecosystems, has received research, media, and public interest. However, how MPs environmental and health risks are reflected in the media and assessed in the scientific literature does not find consensus over time. To date, few studies have examined social aspects around MPs, such as, for example, factors that influence awareness and perception of the risk of MPs. In this context, the objective of this study is twofold. First, we determined if media narratives influenced Romanians' awareness of MPs, and second, we investigated if media narratives influenced Romanians' perceptions of MPs health and environmental risk. Method An online survey was conducted among 417 Romanian respondents. The questionnaire had 21 questions. The questions were related to the awareness of MPs, the perceived health risk of MPs, the perceived environmental risk of MPs, the intensity of exposure to media narratives about the MPs impact on health and the environment, and the demographics. Binary logistic regression was run to identify what media narratives influenced MPs awareness and risk perception. In recent times, mass media has shaped perceptions of health and environmental risks, driven by events like COVID-19 and global climate change. Our study relies on media narratives as its foundation. Results Binary logistic regression showed that the awareness of MPs is influenced by the media narrative "Microplastics in the sea threaten fish stocks" (p = 0.001). When the frequency of exposure to this media narrative increases, the probability of reporting awareness of MPs increases. Likewise, an increase in age represents a higher probability of reporting awareness of MPs. The perceived health risk of MPs, with the highest weighting, was related to the dependent variable "Leakage of harmful chemicals from MPs affects the soil" (p = 0.014). Conclusions Media narratives about plastic and MPs pollution have increased over time, influencing the perception of this risk. The study argues the need for accurate and balanced media reporting on MPs to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that people clearly understand MPs risks. Furthermore, a closer examination of people's perceptions supports the design of appropriate interventions to reduce plastic consumption, thereby decreasing the risks of MPs pollution with benefits for human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pop
- Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High-Performance Computing, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandru Ozunu
- Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High-Performance Computing, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Dacinia Crina Petrescu
- Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Department of Economy and Rural Development, Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Adrian-Daniel Stan
- Department of International Studies and Contemporary History, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag
- Research Institute for Sustainability and Disaster Management Based on High-Performance Computing, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Economy and Rural Development, Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Doctoral School “International Relations and Security Studies”, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Abad López AP, Trilleras J, Arana VA, Garcia-Alzate LS, Grande-Tovar CD. Atmospheric microplastics: exposure, toxicity, and detrimental health effects. RSC Adv 2023; 13:7468-7489. [PMID: 36908531 PMCID: PMC9993231 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra07098g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are micro-particulate pollutants present in all environments whose ubiquity leads humans to unavoidable exposure. Due to low density, MPs also accumulate in the atmosphere, where they are easily transported worldwide and come into direct contact with the human body by inhalation or ingestion, causing detrimental health effects. This literature review presents the sources of atmospheric MPs pollution, transport routes, physicochemical characteristics, and environmental interactions. The document also explains the implications for human health and analyzes the risk of exposure based on the potential toxicity and the concentration in the atmosphere. MPs' toxicity lies in their physical characteristics, chemical composition, environmental interactions, and degree of aging. The abundance and concentration of these microparticles are associated with nearby production sources and their displacement in the atmosphere. The above elements are presented in an integrated way to facilitate a better understanding of the associated risk. The investigation results encourage the development of future research that delves into the health implications of exposure to airborne MPs and raises awareness of the risks of current plastic pollution to promote the establishment of relevant mitigation policies and procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Patricia Abad López
- Grupo de Investigación de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Programa de Maestría en Ciencias Químicas. Universidad del Atlántico Carrera 30 Número 8-49 Puerto Colombia 081008 Colombia +57-5-3599-484
| | - Jorge Trilleras
- Grupo de Investigación en Compuestos Heterocíclicos, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Químicas, Universidad del Atlántico Carrera 30 No 8-49 Puerto Colombia 081007 Colombia
| | - Victoria A Arana
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias, Educación y Tecnología-CETIC, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Químicas, Universidad del Atlántico Carrera 30 No 8-49 Puerto Colombia 081007 Colombia
| | - Luz Stella Garcia-Alzate
- Grupo de Investigación Ciencias, Educación y Tecnología-CETIC, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Químicas, Universidad del Atlántico Carrera 30 No 8-49 Puerto Colombia 081007 Colombia
| | - Carlos David Grande-Tovar
- Grupo de Investigación de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Programa de Maestría en Ciencias Químicas. Universidad del Atlántico Carrera 30 Número 8-49 Puerto Colombia 081008 Colombia +57-5-3599-484
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