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Zeng Y, Wang H, Liang D, Yuan W, Shen Y, Shen Z, Gu Q. Shape- and polymer-considered simulation to unravel the estuarine microplastics fate. J Hazard Mater 2024; 461:132679. [PMID: 37793263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Environmental microplastics (MPs) constitute various sizes, polymers, and shape components. In estuaries, such differences are related to the reliability of assessing the seaward fate of MPs, aggregation hotspots, and ecological risks. This study sets the MP particle mass gradient using the shape factor and size probability density function to categorically estimate the MP load in the surface layer of the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE), which is the largest contributor of plastics to the sea. During the high plastic input period in July, the optimized estimated MP load through the surface layer of the YRE was 9766 kg/month, which was overestimated by 821 kg/month based on the empirical average particle mass. While tracking MP transport classified by shape and polymer type, the resuspension of MPs that accumulate in the intertidal zone cannot be neglected. The average relative error of the simulation was as low as 19.6% after including the abovementioned factors. Finally, the simulation results of the sensitive regions were extracted to assess the new MP risk index, which considers shape, abundance, and polymer type. By introducing these essential tools, this study helps to understand the fate of riverine MPs entering estuaries, where valuable opportunities for removing MPs exist before they spread to the oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichuan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Dongfang Liang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
| | - Weihao Yuan
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Yuhan Shen
- Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Zilin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Qihui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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2
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He H, Wen HP, Liu JP, Wu CC, Mai L, Zeng EY. Hydrophobic organic contaminants affiliated with polymer-specific microplastics in urban river tributaries and estuaries. Sci Total Environ 2023; 899:166415. [PMID: 37598956 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to microplastics (MPs) and hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) combined at high concentrations may induce adverse effects to aquatic organisms in laboratory-scale studies. To determine environmentally relevant concentrations of HOCs in MPs, it is essential to understand the occurrence of MP-affiliated HOCs in the aquatic environment. Here we report the occurrences of HOCs affiliated with polymer-specific floating MPs from 12 tributaries and three estuaries in the Pearl River Delta, South China. Target HOCs include nine synthetic musks (SMs), 14 ultraviolet adsorbents (UVAs), 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Average concentrations of MP-affiliated ∑9SM, ∑14UVA, ∑15PAH, ∑8PBDE, and ∑14PCB were 1790, 5550, 1090, 412, and 107 ng g-1, respectively. The average concentrations of HOCs affiliated with MPs of different polymer types were 9790, 7220, 72,500, and 55,800 ng g-1 for polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, polystyrene, and other MPs, respectively. As the concentration of PE was the highest among all MPs at the average concentration of 0.77 mg m-3, the monthly outflow of PE-affiliated HOCs accounted for the largest proportion (46 %) in the outflow of MP-affiliated HOCs (2.8 g) to the coastal ocean via three estuaries. These results suggest that HOCs were highly concentrated in MPs and varied among different chemicals and polymer types. Due to the differences of polymer characteristics and half-life of affiliated chemicals, future toxicology studies concerning exposure to these combined pollutants may need to specify polymer types and their affiliated chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui He
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Hui-Ping Wen
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Ji-Peng Liu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Chen-Chou Wu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lei Mai
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) and Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Research Center of Low Carbon Economy for Guangzhou Region, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Community of Life for Man and Nature, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Park S, Kim I, Jeon WH, Moon HS. Exploring the vertical transport of microplastics in subsurface environments: Lab-scale experiments and field evidence. J Contam Hydrol 2023; 257:104215. [PMID: 37348415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2023.104215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) defined as smaller 5 mm plastic particles have received increasing attention due to their global occurrence and potential toxicity. This study investigated the effects of environmental factors (rainfall intensity, 13 and 29 mm/h) and MP characteristics (morphology (fiber, flake, and film), polymer type (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS)) and size (100-300, 300-500, and 500-1000 μm)) on the vertical transport of MP in unsaturated soil conditions using lab-scale column experiments. Additionally, the occurrence and characteristics of MP detected in soil/sediment (total 13 samples) and groundwater samples (total 6 samples) were explored in the field study. Laboratory-scale column experiments revealed that heavy rainfall intensity (29 mm/h) increased the degree of MP vertical transport in unsaturated soil conditions and MP fibers showed the greatest vertical mobility among the various morphologies of MPs assessed. For the polymer type and size, the lighter PP polymer or the larger size of MP (500-1000 μm) showed higher mobility. In the field study, a statistical difference in MP abundance was observed depending on the population density and degree of urban development in both soil and groundwater samples. Comparing to the two different types of environmental media samples obtained from the same site, there was a significant difference in the composition of polymer types present while statistically no difference in MP abundance was observed between the two media samples (i.e., soil or sediment and groundwater). In addition, MP fibers and polyethylene (PE) were predominantly detected in our two study areas. These results suggest that various types of MP can pass through the unsaturated zone by water infiltration, even if it takes a long time to reach groundwater. Overall, we found that the degree of vertical transport of the MPs was highly sensitive to environmental conditions and MP characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saerom Park
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Gyeonggi-do 10223, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilho Kim
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Gyeonggi-do 10223, Republic of Korea; Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Hyun Jeon
- Groundwater Environment Research Center, Climate Change Response Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Sun Moon
- Groundwater Environment Research Center, Climate Change Response Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea; Geological Science, University of Science Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
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Nantege D, Odong R, Auta HS, Keke UN, Ndatimana G, Assie AF, Arimoro FO. Microplastic pollution in riverine ecosystems: threats posed on macroinvertebrates. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9. [PMID: 37248351 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants of emerging concern that have been reported in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as in food items. The increasing production and use of plastic materials have led to a rise in MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This review aimed at providing an overview of the abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems and the potential effects posed on macroinvertebrates. Microplastics in riverine ecosystems are reported in all regions, with less research in Africa, South America, and Oceania. The abundance and distribution of MPs in riverine ecosystems are mainly affected by population density, economic activities, seasons, and hydraulic regimes. Ingestion of MPs has also been reported in riverine macroinvertebrates and has been incorporated in caddisflies cases. Further, bivalves and chironomids have been reported as potential indicators of MPs in aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to ingest MPs relative to environmental concentration. Fiber and fragments are the most common types reported. Meanwhile, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (polyester), polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride are the most common polymers. These MPs are from materials/polymers commonly used for packaging, shopping/carrier bags, fabrics/textiles, and construction. Ingestion of MPs by macroinvertebrates can physically harm and inhibit growth, reproduction, feeding, and moulting, thus threatening their survival. In addition, MP ingestion can trigger enzymatic changes and cause oxidative stress in the organisms. There is a need to regulate the production and use of plastic materials, as well as disposal of the wastes to reduce MP pollution in riverine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Nantege
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria.
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Robinson Odong
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helen Shnada Auta
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Unique Ndubuisi Keke
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Gilbert Ndatimana
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Attobla Fulbert Assie
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Francis Ofurum Arimoro
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Nigeria
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Liu B, Lu Y, Deng H, Huang H, Wei N, Jiang Y, Jiang Y, Liu L, Sun K, Zheng H. Occurrence of microplastics in the seawater and atmosphere of the South China Sea: Pollution patterns and interrelationship. Sci Total Environ 2023; 889:164173. [PMID: 37201824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a serious global environmental problem, particularly in marine ecosystems. However, the pollution patterns of MPs in the ocean and atmosphere, particularly the sea-air interrelationship, remain unclear. Therefore, the abundance, distribution patterns, and sources of MPs in the seawater and atmosphere of the South China Sea (SCS) were comparatively investigated. The results showed that MPs were prevalent in the SCS with an average abundance of 103.4 ± 98.3 items/m3 in the seawater and 4.62 ± 3.60 items/100 m3 in the atmosphere. The spatial analysis indicated that the pollution patterns of seawater MPs were mainly determined by land-based discharge and sea surface currents, whereas atmospheric MPs were predominantly determined by air parcel trajectory and wind conditions. The highest MP abundance of 490 items/m3 in seawater was found at a station near Vietnam with current vortices. However, the highest MP abundance of 14.6 items/100 m3 in the atmosphere was found in air parcels with low-speed southerly winds from Malaysia. Similar MP compositions (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyethylene) were observed in the two environmental compartments. Furthermore, similar MP characteristics (e.g., shape, color, and size) in the seawater and atmosphere of the same region suggested a close relationship between the MPs in the two compartments. For this purpose, cluster analysis and calculation of the MP diversity integrated index were performed. The results showed an obvious dispersion between the two compartment clusters and a higher diversity integrated index of MPs in seawater than in the atmosphere, thus implying higher compositional diversity and more complex sources of MPs in seawater relative to the atmosphere. These findings deepen our understanding of MP fate and patterns in the semi-enclosed marginal sea environment and highlight the potential interrelationship of MPs in the air-sea system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Yao Lu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Hanqiang Deng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Huanfang Huang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Nan Wei
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Yunlin Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Yuxia Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Liuqingqing Liu
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Kaifeng Sun
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Guangzhou 510535, China.
| | - Hao Zheng
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Marine Ecology and Environmental Science Laboratory, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Thushari GGN, Miyazono K, Sato T, Yamashita R, Takasuka A, Watai M, Yasuda T, Kuroda H, Takahashi K. Floating plastic accumulation and distribution around Kuroshio Current, western North Pacific. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 188:114604. [PMID: 36706546 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of floating plastic debris around the Kuroshio Current which transports plastics from the coastal waters of Asian countries to North Pacific subtropical gyre, was investigated in 2014. The mean abundance and weight of plastic debris on the sea surface were 100,376 counts/km2 and 446.16 g/km2, respectively. Intensive plastic accumulation was observed in the frontal area between the northern edge of the Kuroshio and coastal waters off Shikoku, while a relatively higher abundance in the south of Kuroshio was generally associated with anticyclonic mesoscale eddies. Such an accumulation resulted from the eddy-Kuroshio interactions which are specifically associated with the offshore non-large meandering Kuroshio path. Overall, white, fragmented, small-sized (≤1 mm) particles with polyethylene and polypropylene polymers were dominant. In the southern area of Kuroshio, the contribution of polystyrene and larger-sized plastic was higher, suggesting a rapid influx of fresh particles from western Japan to offshore by the northwest monsoon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajahin Gamage Nadeeka Thushari
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science & Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla 90 000, Sri Lanka.
| | - Kentaro Miyazono
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Rei Yamashita
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
| | - Akinori Takasuka
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Mikio Watai
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Tohya Yasuda
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kuroda
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 116 Katsurakoi, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0802, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Takahashi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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Velimirovic M, Teunkens B, Ghorbanfekr H, Buelens B, Hermans T, Van Damme S, Tirez K, Vanhaecke F. What can we learn from studying plastic debris in the Sea Scheldt estuary? Sci Total Environ 2022; 851:158226. [PMID: 35998716 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Sea Scheldt estuary has been suggested to be a significant pathway for transfer of plastic debris to the North Sea. We have studied 12,801 plastic items that were collected in the Sea Scheldt estuary (Belgium) during 3 sampling campaigns (in spring, summer, and autumn) using a technique called anchor netting. The investigation results indicated that the abundance of plastic debris in the Scheldt River was on average 1.6 × 10-3 items per m3 with an average weight of 0.38 × 10-3 g per m3. Foils were the most abundant form, accounting for >88 % of the samples, followed by fragments for 11 % of the samples and filaments, making up for <1 % of the plastic debris. FTIR spectroscopy of 7 % of the total number of plastic debris items collected in the Sea Scheldt estuary (n = 883) revealed that polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) originating from disposable packaging materials were the most abundant types of polymers. A limited number of plastic debris items (n = 100) were selected for non-destructive screening of their mineral element composition using micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μXRF). The corresponding results revealed that S, Ca, Si, P, Al, and Fe were the predominant mineral elements. These elements originate from flame retardants, mineral fillers, and commonly used catalysts for plastic production. Finally, machine learning algorithms were deployed to test a new concept for forensic identification of the different plastic entities based on the most important elements present using a limited subset of PP (n = 36) and PE (n = 35) plastic entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Velimirovic
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry-A&MS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S12, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Bert Teunkens
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hossein Ghorbanfekr
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Bart Buelens
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Tom Hermans
- Faculty of Technology, UC Leuven-Limburg, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan, gebouw B/1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Stefan Van Damme
- Ecosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kristof Tirez
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Frank Vanhaecke
- Atomic & Mass Spectrometry-A&MS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S12, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Cha J, Lee JY, Chia RW. Comment on the paper "Microplastic contamination of an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria, Australia". Sci Total Environ 2022; 820:153121. [PMID: 35063524 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper was written to comment on a few important problems of an original paper published in this journal. In the original paper, polyamide (PA) ropes, a kind of plastic, were used for groundwater sampling. Also, polycarbonate, another plastic, was also used as a filter paper although their potential contamination was later evaluated. Although the original authors reported that high levels of PA were not found in any of the 21 groundwater samples, it is still necessary to only use equipment(s) made of non-plastic at every step of the method for an accurate and reliable analysis of the presence of microplastic in groundwater. The original authors collected a total of 3 l for each borehole (1 l for each sample), but for an unbiased and reliable analysis of microplastics, bigger volumes of groundwater samples should be collected. Furthermore, the original authors computed the Pearson correlation coefficients between the analyzed plastic types, but omitted the normality test of the data distribution. If the collected data are not normally distributed, then Spearman rank correlation coefficients are a better option. In addition, we found some important misstatements regarding the results of the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihye Cha
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Yong Lee
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Rogers Wainkwa Chia
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Earth Resources, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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Takeshita KM, Iwasaki Y, Sinclair TM, Hayashi TI, Naito W. Illustrating a Species Sensitivity Distribution for Nano- and Microplastic Particles Using Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022; 41:954-960. [PMID: 35226391 PMCID: PMC9314701 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination with nano- and microplastic (NMP) particles is an emerging global concern. The derivation of species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) is an essential step in estimating a hazardous concentration for 5% of the species (HC5), and this HC5 value is often used as a "safe" concentration in ecological risk assessment, that is, predicted-no-effect concentration. Although properties of plastics such as particle size can affect toxic effect concentrations, such influences have not yet been quantitatively considered in estimating SSDs for NMP particles. We illustrate a log-normal SSD using chronic lowest-observed-effect concentrations (LOECs) of NMP particles from readily available toxicity data sets, considering the influence of particle size, polymer type, and freshwater or marine test media by adopting Bayesian hierarchical modeling techniques. Results of the hierarchical SSD modeling suggest that the SSD mean was negatively associated with particle size and was lower in marine media than in freshwater media. The posterior medians of the HC5 estimated from the LOEC-based SSD varied by a factor of 10 depending on these factors (e.g., 1.8-20 μg/L for the particle size range of 0.1-5000 μm in the marine environment). Hierarchical SSD modeling allows us to clarify the influences of important factors such as NMP properties on effect concentrations, thereby helping to guide more relevant ecological risk assessments for NMP. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:954-960. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutaka M. Takeshita
- Health and Environmental Risk DivisionNational Institute for Environmental Studies, TsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Yuichi Iwasaki
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and SustainabilityNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, TsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Thomas M. Sinclair
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Takehiko I. Hayashi
- Social Systems DivisionNational Institute for Environmental Studies, TsukubaIbarakiJapan
| | - Wataru Naito
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and SustainabilityNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, TsukubaIbarakiJapan
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Neelavannan K, Achyuthan H, Sen IS, Krishnakumar S, Gopinath K, Dhanalakshmi R, Rajalakshmi PR, Sajeev R. Distribution and characterization of plastic debris pollution along the Poompuhar Beach, Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 175:113337. [PMID: 35093779 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The present study was carried out to determine the characteristics, distribution, and abundance of plastic debris in 25 sediment samples collected from the Poompuhar beach, southeast coast of India. The result reveals that the mean plastic debris abundance was 42 ± 27 particles/m2 dry weight (dw) (1 SD, n = 25) with higher concentrations in the river mouth. The dominant shapes in the study area were fragment (70.7%), followed by fiber (20.7%), and pellet-shaped (8.6%). The dominant colors of the plastic debris were: white-colored (47%) followed by blue (28%) and green (14%). The study further reveals that the dominant polymer type was polyethylene (PE, 63.4%), followed by nylon (PA, 16.9), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 15.5%), polypropylene (PP, 3.1%), and polystyrene (PS, 1.1%). In the study area, the main source of plastic debris was from land-based fishing and tourism activities, and rainwater runoff from the Cauvery River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannaiyan Neelavannan
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India; Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
| | - Hema Achyuthan
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India.
| | - Indra Sekhar Sen
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India
| | - S Krishnakumar
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India; Department of Geology, Malankara catholic college, Mariyagiri, Kaliyakkavilai, Kanyakumari 629153, India
| | - Kalpana Gopinath
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India; Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå 97754, Sweden
| | - R Dhanalakshmi
- Department of Geography, Queen Mary's College, Chennai 600 004, India
| | - P R Rajalakshmi
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
| | - Riffin Sajeev
- Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
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Kapukotuwa RWMGK, Jayasena N, Weerakoon KC, Abayasekara CL, Rajakaruna RS. High levels of microplastics in commercial salt and industrial salterns in Sri Lanka. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 174:113239. [PMID: 34953262 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study provides the first analysis and quantification of MPs in salt products in Sri Lanka. Commercial table salt brands, rock salt, lab-grade NaCl and raw salt from three salterns were analysed using microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All salt samples were contaminated with MPs: in commercial salts products it ranged from 11 to 193 items/kg, rock salts had 64 items/kg and lab grade NaCl had 253 ± 8.9 items/kg. The MP levels in salterns varied significantly: Hambantota 3345.7 ± 311.4 items/kg, Puttalam 272.3 ± 10.6 items/kg, and Elephant Pass 36.3 ± 4.5 items/kg. Predominantly, MPs were presented as fibres, followed by fragments. Of the 23 polymer types identified; low-density polyethylene (LDPE; 17%), resin dispersion (15%) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE; 12%) were notable. This study provides the first comparison of MPs in raw salt and commercial salt. This information is important to trace the pollutant sources and then to take steps to eliminate MPs in food products consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W M G K Kapukotuwa
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - N Jayasena
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - K C Weerakoon
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - C L Abayasekara
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - R S Rajakaruna
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka.
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Lee JY, Cha J, Jeong E, Kim YI. Comment on "Spatial distribution of microplastic concentration around landfill sites and its potential risk on groundwater". Chemosphere 2021; 284:131376. [PMID: 34229894 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper discusses some critical weak points and mistakes identified in the original paper. The authors disregarded the importance of field blanks, sampling equipment, and well specifications for proper quality assurance and control. Beneficial field practices guarantee highly reliable results of laboratory analysis for microplastics. In addition, polymer type (chemical composition) and shape (form) are different classification criteria, but the authors mixed these in their description. The distribution and transport of microplastics should be properly understood, along with a knowledge of groundwater flow conditions, such as flow direction and velocity, in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Yong Lee
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jihye Cha
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunju Jeong
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-In Kim
- Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea; Research on Microplastics in Groundwater (RMPG) Team, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
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13
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Erni-Cassola G, Zadjelovic V, Gibson MI, Christie-Oleza JA. Distribution of plastic polymer types in the marine environment; A meta-analysis. J Hazard Mater 2019; 369:691-698. [PMID: 30826562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.02.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 344] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing plastic discharge into the environment, researchers have struggled to detect expected increases of marine plastic debris in sea surfaces, sparking discussions about "missing plastics" and final sinks, which are hypothesized to be coastal and deep-sea sediments. While it holds true that the highest concentrations of plastic particles are found in these locations (103-104 particles m-3 in sediments vs. 0.1-1 particles m-3 in the water column), our meta-analysis also highlights that in open oceans, microplastic polymer types segregated in the water column according to their density. Lower density polymers, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, dominated sea surface samples (25% and 42%, respectively) but decreased in abundance through the water column (3% and 2% in the deep-sea, respectively), whereas only denser polymers (i.e. polyesters and acrylics) were enriched with depth (5% in surface seawater vs. 77% in deep-sea locations). Our meta-analysis demonstrates that some of the most abundant and recalcitrant manufactured plastics are more persistent in the sea surface than previously anticipated and that further research is required to determine the ultimate fate of these polymers as current knowledge does not support the deep sea as the final sink for all polymer types.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vinko Zadjelovic
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Matthew I Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Abayomi OA, Range P, Al-Ghouti MA, Obbard JP, Almeer SH, Ben-Hamadou R. Microplastics in coastal environments of the Arabian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 2017; 124:181-188. [PMID: 28739102 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Eight sandy beaches along the coastline of Qatar and four sea surface stations on the eastern coast, adjacent to Doha Bay, were surveyed between December 2014 and March 2015. Microplastics, mainly low density polyethylene and polypropylene, were found in all samples of sediments and seawater. Blue fibers, ranging between 1 and 5mm, were the dominant type of particle present. Abundances on the sea surface varied between 4.38×104 and 1.46×106particles·km-2, with the highest values being consistently found 10km offshore, suggesting the presence of a convergence zone. No significant temporal variability was detected for sea surface samples. The concentration of microplastics in intertidal sediments varied between 36 and 228particlesm-2, with no significant differences among the 8 beaches examined. These results show the pervasiveness of microplastic pollution in coastal environments of the Arabian Gulf. Potential local sources and sinks for microplastics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyebamiji Abib Abayomi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Pedro Range
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad A Al-Ghouti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Radhouane Ben-Hamadou
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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