The issue of plastic pollutants has become a growing concern.Both microplastics(MPs)(particle size<5 mm)and nanoplastics(NPs)(particle size<1μm)can cause DNA damage,cytotoxicity,and oxidative stress in various ...The issue of plastic pollutants has become a growing concern.Both microplastics(MPs)(particle size<5 mm)and nanoplastics(NPs)(particle size<1μm)can cause DNA damage,cytotoxicity,and oxidative stress in various organisms.The primary known impacts of microplastic/nanoplastic are observed in the liver and respiratory system,leading to hepatotoxicity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Although research on the effects of MPs and NPs on diabetes is still in its early stages,there are potential concerns.This editorial highlights the risk to diabetics from co-exposure to contaminants and MPs/NPs,supported by evidence from animal studies and the various chemical compositions of MPs/NPs.展开更多
With the arrival of a high temperature of 30℃,summer begins.However,for many people,summer has become the beginning of a'nightmare'.Many people can't sleep at night but feel sleepy during the day,sweating...With the arrival of a high temperature of 30℃,summer begins.However,for many people,summer has become the beginning of a'nightmare'.Many people can't sleep at night but feel sleepy during the day,sweating profusely when they don't turn on the air conditioning,and waking up frozen in the middle of the night when they turn on the air conditioning.Even worse,many people are trapped in a vicious cycle of shallow sleep,frequent dreams,and morning drowsiness.This leads us to ask,why do we always have trouble sleeping in summer?展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)are one of the most concerning pollutants that affects the health and growth of aquatic organisms.We characterized the MPs dispersion in the milli-Q water and seawater,and evaluated the effects of MP...Microplastics(MPs)are one of the most concerning pollutants that affects the health and growth of aquatic organisms.We characterized the MPs dispersion in the milli-Q water and seawater,and evaluated the effects of MPs on the gut epithelial cells of brine shrimp using three sizes of polystyrene(PS)microbeads(0.05,0.5,and 5μm,respectively).Results show that microbeads evenly dispersed in milli-Q water,but exhibited aggregation tendency in seawater associating with the particle size.Apart from a reduced survival rate,we observed the structure changes in the gut epithelium that the smaller size of PS microbeads resulted in an increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)and higher apoptosis-related genes expression.Moreover,exposure to all size of PS microbeads led to increased green fluorescence of J-monomer,indicating the declined mitochondrial membrane potential.Therefore,exposure to PS microbeads led to significantly size-dependent toxicity on brine shrimp.Especially,0.05-μm PS microbeads were more toxic,leading to severe oxidative stress and activation of the p53-Bax-Bcl2 pathway,ultimately resulting in cellular apoptosis and gut damage.These findings are important to understand the mechanism of MPs toxicity and its potential ecological risks to marine aquatic animals.展开更多
Plastic pollution and microplastics in sediments are a growing concern for marine ecosystems worldwide.We examined the vertical distribution and properties of microplastics in beach sediments of Xuwen Coral Reef Natio...Plastic pollution and microplastics in sediments are a growing concern for marine ecosystems worldwide.We examined the vertical distribution and properties of microplastics in beach sediments of Xuwen Coral Reef National Nature Reserve,in Leizhou Peninsula,Zhanjiang,China.Sediment samples were taken in seven locations at 5-cm intervals from the surface to a depth of 30 cm.The vertical distribution of microplastic particles ranged from 0 to 1340 particles per kg on average of 119.05particles per kg.The most prevalent material was fibers(76%),followed by film(12%),fragments(11.2%),and foam(0.8%).The microplastics in size of 1-2 mm constituted the largest percentage(40%)of the total,followed by those in size of<1 mm(26.4%),2-3 mm(21.2%),3-4 mm(9.6%),and 4-5 mm(2.81%).Site S1 observed maximum sizes between 1 and 2 mm,S2 reported higher availability of microplastics with sizes ranging from 0.3 to 1 mm.Six different types of polymers were identified in the investigation,and mostly were polyethylene(PE)and polypropylene(PP).In general,the observation of microplastics in deeper sediments indicates that they have the ability to last for prolonged periods in the marine environment,which may present long-term hazards to benthic creatures.In conclusion,the discovery of microplastics in deep layers of coastal sediments highlights the necessity of minimizing plastic waste and enhancing management strategies to safeguard marine environments.展开更多
Due to their resistance to degradation,wide distribution,easy diffusion and potential uptake by organisms,microplastics(MPs)pollution has become a major environmental concern.In this study,PEG-modified Fe_(3)O_(4)magn...Due to their resistance to degradation,wide distribution,easy diffusion and potential uptake by organisms,microplastics(MPs)pollution has become a major environmental concern.In this study,PEG-modified Fe_(3)O_(4)magnetic nanoparticles demonstrated superior adsorption efficiency against polyethylene(PE)microspheres compared to other adsorbents(bare Fe_(3)O_(4),PEI/Fe_(3)O_(4)and CA/Fe_(3)O_(4)).Themaximumadsorption capacity of PEwas found to be 2203 mg/g by adsorption isotherm analysis.PEG/Fe_(3)O_(4)maintained a high adsorption capacity even at low temperature(5℃,2163 mg/g),while neutral pH was favorable for MP adsorption.The presence of anions(Cl^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),HCO_(3)^(-),NO_(3)^(-))and of humic acids inhibited the adsorption of MPs.It is proposed that the adsorption process was mainly driven by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.Overall,the study demonstrated that PEG/Fe_(3)O_(4)can potentially be used as an efficient control against MPs,thus improving the quality of the aquatic environment and of our water resources.展开更多
In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of micropla...In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of microplastics in surface and bottom waters was 1.35±0.93 and 0.79±0.50 items/m~3,respectively.Microplastics in both surface and bottom waters were predominantly in the form of fragments,and mostly in green.The composition of microplastics in surface water was primarily poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMA),whereas in bottom water,polyethylene(PE)dominated.Positive matrix factorization(PMF)modeling revealed that the primary sources of microplastics were pipeline abrasion,fishing activities,plastic waste,landfill disposal,transportation,aquaculture,and construction activities.The pollution load index(PLI)indicated that the overall risk of microplastic pollution in the Beibu Gulf was low.Conversely,the polymer hazard index(PHI)for microplastics was relatively high.These data underscore the importance of timely and effective reduction of human-intensive activities contributing to microplastic pollution and provide valuable information for further research in microplastic ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry.展开更多
To explore the relationship of microplastic pollution in different media in marine environment,microplastics in the surface seawater and sediments of Laizhou Bay,Bohai Sea,North China,were studied.Seawater samples wer...To explore the relationship of microplastic pollution in different media in marine environment,microplastics in the surface seawater and sediments of Laizhou Bay,Bohai Sea,North China,were studied.Seawater samples were collected using a pre-concentrator equipped with a 20-μm mesh size sieve,and sediment samples were collected by a box sampler.The shape,color,size,and type of microplastics were obtained by a stereomicroscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(ATR-μ-FT-IR).Results show that the abundance of microplastics in the surface seawater of Laizhou Bay was 858.3±573.2 items/m~3,and that of microplastics in sediments was 151.0±77.4 items/kg dry weight(d.w.)The microplastics in seawater and sediments were mainly fibrous.Meanwhile,the microplastics in seawater were mainly transparent,and those in sediments were transparent and blue.The highest proportion of microplastics in seawater was rayon(77.48%),followed by polyethylene terephthalate(PET,13.17%).The highest proportion of microplastics in sediments was rayon(73.66%),followed by PET(8.90%).The size of microplastics in 1000-2000μm accounted for the largest proportion of 28.54%in seawater,while that in 500-1000μm took 27.93%in sediment.Microplastics in seawater and sediment showed medium-level pollution.In seawater,microplastic abundance was higher in offshore and nearshore areas of Weifang.In sediment,microplastic abundance was higher in offshore and nearshore areas of Dongying.The results of the principal component analysis(PCA)indicated that microplastics in sediment exhibited greater stability compared to those in seawater.The microplastics in seawater and sediment show a positive correlation in terms of shape and plastic type,while exhibiting a negative correlation in terms of color.Overall,microplastics in sediments were smaller in size,and those in seawater and sediments had consistent size distribution characteristics in space.展开更多
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a common type of microplastics (MPs) often found in coastal areas especially aquaculture areas.It is considered as an important site for microbial colonization and biofilm formation,as we...Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a common type of microplastics (MPs) often found in coastal areas especially aquaculture areas.It is considered as an important site for microbial colonization and biofilm formation,as well as a carrier of pollutants like heavy metals.However,the dynamic changes of bacterial communities attached to EPS and their interaction with heavy metals are still poorly unknown.In this study,a one-year field exposure experiment was conducted at an aquaculture farm near Donghai Island,in Leizhou Bay,Zhanjiang,Guangdong,in South China Sea.The bacterial communities attached to EPS MPs were examined by 16S r DNA high-throughput sequencing,and the relationships between bacterial biofilms and heavy metals were explored.The results show that there were notable seasonal variations in the bacterial diversity of EPS MPs.Species biodiversity was the highest in summer and the lowest in winter.The greatest number of bacterial species and lowest level of uniformity were observed in the spring.The bacterial community structure changed with exposure time,and the most significant difference in the 12-month group (P<0.05) was found.The dominant bacterial species attached to EPS MPs were mainly Proteobackteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level,and Pseudomonas and Exiguobacterium were dominant at the genus level.Furthermore,EPS MPs acted as transport carriers for potential pathogenic bacteria.High correlations were found between bacterial species and the total concentration of heavy metals on EPS MPs,as well as their speciation fractions.Different chemical speciation of heavy metals migrated and altered over seasons within biofilms,which would further exacerbate the ecological risks.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)have garnered significant international scrutiny as an emerging environmental pollutant,constituting one of the four principal global environmental threats and posing potential health hazards to huma...Microplastics(MPs)have garnered significant international scrutiny as an emerging environmental pollutant,constituting one of the four principal global environmental threats and posing potential health hazards to humans.However,data on the impact of MPs on the early life of the commercially important fish remain limited.In this study,polystyrene microspheres(PS-MPs)(1 and 5μm)were used to investigate the effects of MPs on the growth,development,and metabolism in early life stages of large yellow croaker Pseudosciaena crocea.Results indicate that MPs were enriched in the gastrointestinal tract and gills of the fish.In addition,PS-MPs(1μm)exhibited no obvious effects on embryo hatching and heart rates,while increased the mortality rate(23.00%vs.control 14.99%)and decreased the body length(4098.61±447.03μm vs.control with 2827.04±254.75μm)of the larvae at the highest exposure concentration(5×10^(4)items/L).Metabolomics analysis revealed that PS-MPs(5μm)induced mild perturbations in phospholipid metabolism,specifically alterations in phosphatidylethanolamine(PE)levels.These changes influenced the cell membranes of juvenile fish,and consequently elicited inflammatory responses,disrupted lipid homeostasis,and affected other critical physiological processes.Ultimately,these effects may avoid the growth retardation and potential mortality.Therefore,PS-MPs could affect negatively the fish health in the early life stage,which has implications for aquatic ecosystems.展开更多
Microplastic contamination is considered a major threat to the marine environment.Although microplastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean has been studied,its abundance,distribution,composition,and origin in the western ...Microplastic contamination is considered a major threat to the marine environment.Although microplastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean has been studied,its abundance,distribution,composition,and origin in the western Pacific Ocean remain unclear.Here,we investigated the abundance and distribution characteristics of microplastics in surface waters of the western Pacific Ocean and analyzed their potential sources.Results show that microplastics were widespread in the western Pacific Ocean,with abundance ranging from 0.03 to 2.36 particles/m^(3)(average 0.37±0.47 particles/m^(3)).Fibers/filaments and fragments were the main shapes of microplastics(71.6%)and the most abundant microplastic size class was<1.0 mm(42.4%).Significant differences in microplastic abundance were observed in different regions,with the lowest abundance in the South China Sea(0.03 particles/m^(3))and highest abundance in the seamount area in the western Pacific Ocean(0.58 particles/m^(3)).This study provides baseline data and insights into the fate and transportation of microplastics in the western Pacific region.展开更多
Microplastic(MP)contamination is becoming a major worldwide concern,affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.This study investigated the source,distribution,and abundance of MPs in sediments from Dongshan Bay,Fuji...Microplastic(MP)contamination is becoming a major worldwide concern,affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.This study investigated the source,distribution,and abundance of MPs in sediments from Dongshan Bay,Fujian,South China,emphasizing particularly the coastline region's susceptibility to tidal impacts in four study sites.The concentrations of MPs in the sediments in the four sites were high from 7.4 to 283.1 items/kg(dry weight).There were notable differences in abundance between the locations and tide levels.Tides influenced the distribution of MPs greatly;however,the estuary areas showed greater MPs abundance during high tide,due possibly to enhanced water turbulence and riverine inputs.Low tide indicated higher concentrations in coastal locations owing to accumulation.Popular varieties,including nylon,polypropylene,and polyethylene,were identified by polymer research,pointing to the origins from fishing,packaging,and mariculture industries.Potential sources were determined using the PCA-K-means statistical analysis,by linking the origins of MPs to domestic activities,fishing,mariculturing,shipping,and packing.Fishing and packing were shown in the Sankey diagram as the two main sources,but their effects varied with research locations and tidal regimes.This study clarified the intricate dynamics of MPs pollution,highlighting the impact of tides on its dispersal and the variety of sources that contribute to this widespread environmental problem in coastal areas.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)have recently emerged as a significant environmental problem with devastating consequences for organisms.Understanding MPs pollution in the Bay of Bengal is crucial for assessing its ecological impac...Microplastics(MPs)have recently emerged as a significant environmental problem with devastating consequences for organisms.Understanding MPs pollution in the Bay of Bengal is crucial for assessing its ecological impact on marine biodiversity and human health.This study examined the occurrence,spatial distribution,physical and chemical properties,ecological risks,and probable sources of MPs in estuarine and coastal marine environments in the northeastern Bay of Bengal.The average concentration of MPs in surface water of the Karnaphuli estuary,the Meghna estuary,and the southeastern coastal region were 916.7±462.6 items/m^(3),462.9±324.5 items/m^(3),and 350.0±190.5 items/m^(3),respectively,varying from 105.0±324.5 items/m^(3)to 1640.0±462.6 items/m^(3).In the sediments of the Karnaphuli estuary,the Meghna estuary,and the southeast coast of Bangladesh,the average amount of MPs were 94.3±33.1 items/kg,157.6±89.0 items/kg,and 134.3±38.7 items/kg,with a range of 60±33.1 items/kg to 334.3±89.0 items/kg.Most observed MPs were fibers(60.0%in the water;56.0%in the sediments),followed by fragments and lines.Detected MPs were dominated by polypropylene(20.7%)in the water,and acrylic(15.4%)in the sediment,black colored(76.2%in the water,72.7%in the sediments),and 200-500μm sized(48%in the water,37%in the sediments).Pollution Risk Index(PRI)indicated significant pollution levels(from medium to very high)in estuarine and coastal areas.Multi-statistical analysis indicated land-based inputs(tourists,local waste,agriculture,and industry)dominated the studied regions.The study emphasized the potential impact of MPs pollution on aquatic ecosystems,emphasizing the need for effective management,mitigation methods,continuous surveillance,and thorough evaluation.展开更多
Penaeus vannamei, known as the whiteleg shrimp, holds significant economic importance in aquaculture. The intensive culture of P. vannamei poses substantial environmental risks, particularly in fragile ecosystems like...Penaeus vannamei, known as the whiteleg shrimp, holds significant economic importance in aquaculture. The intensive culture of P. vannamei poses substantial environmental risks, particularly in fragile ecosystems like estuarine mangroves. Although there is a consensus on the pollution and harmful effects of microplastics(MPs), study on the pollution and potential risks posed by P. vannamei in estuary mangroves remains scarce. Therefore, the extent of microplastic pollution was evaluated and the correlation between the properties of MPs and the potential risks they pose to P. vannamei was examined.The average MP abundance in P. vannamei from Jiulong River estuary was determined to be 0.46±0.03 n/g in five different polymers, i.e., polypropylene(PP), polyethylene(PE), polystyrene(PS), polyethylene terephthalate(PET), and polyvinyl chloride resin(PVC). The total percentage of PS, PE, and PET polymers was the greatest(73.85%), where PET and PP(26.16%) were highly correlated in size and shape. Small MPs(1-200 μm) come in irregular particles, fragments, films, and large-sized MPs(200-1 000 μm) were mainly foam-shaped. The hazard risk level of MPs in P. vannamei from Jiulong River estuary reached grade Ⅲ, and the overall hazard risk index(H) value was 593.66. Among all samples,PVC polymer accounted for the lowest proportion(5.52%), but the H value was as high as 582.42, which contributed 98.11% to the overall hazard risk index. Regardless of global or Chinese, the microplastic pollution of P. vannamei in the estuary is at a moderate level. The protocol for MPs characteristics and correlation in seafood should be the basis for the risk assessment framework. Further studies are needed to evaluate how the exposure to MPs poses a risk for human health.展开更多
Regarding the rapid shrinkage of the Arctic cryosphere, sea ice plays a significant role in the temporal storage,transport, and release of microplastics(an emergent pollutant) among atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestri...Regarding the rapid shrinkage of the Arctic cryosphere, sea ice plays a significant role in the temporal storage,transport, and release of microplastics(an emergent pollutant) among atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial environments. However, there are sparse studies on microplastics in the landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice in the Alaskan Arctic region. Therefore, this study investigated characteristics and potential sources of microplastics in the landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice in the Alaskan Arctic(Point Barrow). The results found that the average abundance of microplastics in the landfast sea ice(220.6±140.1 items/L) was comparable to that in lagoon lake ice near Point Barrow(148.9±141.8 items/L). For different layers of sea ice cores, the maximum abundance of microplastics generally occurred in the bottom layer. The overall particle sizes for the detected microplastics revealed that the abundance of microplastics decreased with increasing size for both landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice samples. Small-sized microplastics(≤50 μm) accounted for more than 80% of the detected microplastics,with the dominant shape being fragments. The predominant polymers in sea ice were polyamide(PA), polyethylene(PE), and polyethylene terephthalate(PET). Meanwhile, PE and rubber dominated the polymers detected in lagoon lake ice. These differences between microplastics in Arctic sea ice and lagoon lake ice further indicated the discrepancies in microplastic transport pathways and deposition. Microplastics in landfast sea ice were mainly affected by seawater transported from the Pacific Ocean into the Chukchi Sea. In contrast, microplastics in lagoon lake ice were mostly influenced by the seawater of the Beaufort Sea and local vehicle emissions(e.g., rubber). This study further highlighted that a large abundance of microplastics was widely distributed in the sea ice of the Alaska Arctic region and may pose potential risks to the local ecosystems.展开更多
As a new type of pollutant,the harm caused by microplastics(MPs)to organisms has been the research focus.Recently,the proportion of MPs ingested through the digestive tract has gradually increased with the popularity ...As a new type of pollutant,the harm caused by microplastics(MPs)to organisms has been the research focus.Recently,the proportion of MPs ingested through the digestive tract has gradually increased with the popularity of fast-food products,such as takeout.The damage to the digestive system has attracted increasing attention.We reviewed the literature regarding toxicity of MPs and observed that they have different effects on multiple organs of the digestive system.The mechanism may be related to the toxic effects of MPs themselves,interactions with various substances in the biological body,and participation in various signaling pathways to induce adverse reactions as a carrier of toxins to increase the time and amount of body absorption.Based on the toxicity mechanism of MPs,we propose specific suggestions to provide a theoretical reference for the government and relevant departments.展开更多
Coastal ecosystems are plagued by high levels of microplastic pollution.Conducting baseline surveys is crucial to comprehend the distribution and influencing factors of this pollution.The present study investigates th...Coastal ecosystems are plagued by high levels of microplastic pollution.Conducting baseline surveys is crucial to comprehend the distribution and influencing factors of this pollution.The present study investigates the spatiotemporal variation and diversity of microplastic on the coastal beaches in Xiamen City,China,considering the combined effects of seasons,human activities,and physicochemical properties of sediments.It is detected that the abundance of microplastics in Xiamen beaches was 0.271±0.01 items/g.The abundance of microplastics in dry season was significantly higher than in rainy season.In terms of spatial variation,the beaches that attracted a larger number of tourists exhibited significantly higher microplastic abundance.The temporal pattern of microplastic distribution on different beaches varied greatly due to region-specific human activities(e.g.,mangrove restoration project)and sedimentary properties(e.g.,bulk density).When the assemblage of microplastics in the coastal area was viewed as a biological community,the Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou's index were higher in rainy season and in the beaches with high intensity of tourist activities,which suggests that the human activities and the surface runoff may contribute to the diversity of microplastics on coastal beaches.Future investigations are encouraged to combine controlled experiments and long-term monitoring at multiple scales to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and factors associated with microplastic pollution in coastal zone.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental issue,for which rivers serve as key conduits for the transport of MPs from land to ocean.There remained a lack of clarity regarding the charac...Microplastics(MPs)pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental issue,for which rivers serve as key conduits for the transport of MPs from land to ocean.There remained a lack of clarity regarding the characteristics and transport patterns of MPs pollution in diverse environmental media and seasons within a river basin.The Jiulong River basin in Fujian,southeast China was studied as case,whose spatial-temporal distribution,pollution characteristics,and transport dynamics of MPs in both surface water and groundwater were analyzed.Additionally,the features of MPs in different land use types during the dry season were examined.Results show that in wet season,the abundance of MPs in river water varied from 840 to 12300 p/m^(3),with an average of 3920 p/m^(3);in groundwater,the range was 740-1820 p/m^(3),averaging 1107 p/m^(3);and from 68 to 951 p/kg,with an average value of 265 p/kg in the soil(dry weight).In dry season,levels of MPs in river water ranged from 580 to 8880 p/m^(3),with an average of 4034 p/m^(3);groundwater exhibited a range of 860-14980 p/m^(3),averaging 3453 p/m^(3).Fibers consistently dominated the morphology of MPs,of which polyethylene terephthalate was identified as the predominant composition in each environmental medium.Our findings underscore the spatial and temporal variability in distribution and contamination characteristics of MPs across different media.Notably,MPs abundance in river water and groundwater exhibited a seasonal pattern,being higher in levels in dry season than in wet season.The downstream transport of MPs was facilitated by surface runoff,in which MPs in groundwater and surface water could complement to each other.Furthermore,population density and human activities were identified as influential factors on the distribution and abundance of MPs.This study revealed the order of magnitude of difference in annual estimates of MPs entering the sea among different models.Additionally,the interception volume by mangrove forest in the Jiulong River estuary was estimated approximately 1.51×10^(10)MPs particles per year.Ecological interception shall be considered when estimating the fluxes of MPs into the sea.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)have been widely detected in marine environments,yet the pollution in terrestrial fresh waters in economically underdeveloped and remote areas is poorly understood.We investigated the abundance and d...Microplastics(MPs)have been widely detected in marine environments,yet the pollution in terrestrial fresh waters in economically underdeveloped and remote areas is poorly understood.We investigated the abundance and distribution of MPs in inland waters(including open waters in river,lake,reservoir,stream,and tap water and bottled water)in Guizhou,SW China,detected by Nile Red staining.Results show that MPs were detected in all samples,with the mean abundance of 3.5±1.9 items/mL in 34river water samples,3.9±1.9 items/mL in 14 lake and reservoir water samples,3.4±2.4 items/mL in 87 stream water samples,3.8±3.8 items/mL in 164 tap water samples,and 1.3±3.2 items/mL in 12 bottled water samples from 4 different brands.The MP abundance in open field waters(3.6±3.0 items/mL)was significantly higher than that in bottled water(1.3±3.2 items/mL)(P<0.05).The microplastics with particle sizes of 10-20μm accounted for more than 50%of all samples.The composition ratio of smalland medium-sized microplastics in open waters was higher than in tap and bottled water(P<0.05).The MPs abundance tended to increase with the decrease in particle size.Therefore,microplastic pollution varied in different degrees in open waters in economically underdeveloped and remote areas of the southwestern China,which is consistent with microplastic pollution in other similar water environments.This study provided a reference for understanding the microplastic content and pollution control in the inland waters in western and remote areas of China.展开更多
This paper summarizes the mechanisms and environmental effects of interactions between microplastics and surfactants: surfactants adsorb onto microplastics surfaces through hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic f...This paper summarizes the mechanisms and environmental effects of interactions between microplastics and surfactants: surfactants adsorb onto microplastics surfaces through hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic forces, changing their surface properties and transport behavior. In addition, microplastics act as carriers influencing surfactant distribution. Environmental factors (pH, ionic strength, etc. ) significantly regulate this process. Current research still has limitations in areas such as desorption kinetics and combined pollution effects, necessitating in-depth studies under environmentally relevant conditions to provide a basis for risk assessment.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs)have garnered increasing research attentions due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and consequential impacts on both ecosystems and human health.Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)are id...Microplastics(MPs)have garnered increasing research attentions due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and consequential impacts on both ecosystems and human health.Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)are identified as major sources of MPs in aquatic environments,as they receive anthropogenic MPs from household and industrial sewer networks.Based on treated wastewater samples collected in October 2018 from a WWTP in Hangzhou City,China,the MP transport into the Qiantang River before heading into Hangzhou Bay,East China Sea,was investigated.To determine the abundance and characteristics of MPs,the quantities of MPs released into the environment from the WWTP in different treatment stages were estimated,and their migration was simulated using numerical modeling techniques.Results show that the abundance of MPs in the effluent of the WWTP was 1.3 pieces/L,with a daily discharge of 7.6×10^(8)pieces of MPs into the Qiantang River.Polyether sulfone(PES),rayon,and polyethylene terephthalate(PET)were identified from MPs,being dominated by polypropylene(PP).MPs predominantly displayed fibrous and fragmented shapes.Household laundering and plastic product usage were major sources of MPs,with mechanical wear during treatment potentially contributing to the transformation from primary to secondary MPs.After 45 days of transport simulation,a high abundance zone of MPs was observed in the southern region of Hangzhou Bay,with its diffusion range being influenced by the combined effects of river runoff and tides.The spatial distribution range was significantly greater during the spring tide compared to that in the neap tide,and there were varying degrees of MP accumulation in the upper reaches of the wastewater outlet as runoff decreased.This study integrated the emissions and transport of MPs from WWTPs to estuarine rivers,thereby providing valuable scientific guidance for future regional control measures and ecological risk assessments of MPs.展开更多
基金Supported by Research grant from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital,Linkou,Taiwan,No.CMRPG3N0622.
文摘The issue of plastic pollutants has become a growing concern.Both microplastics(MPs)(particle size<5 mm)and nanoplastics(NPs)(particle size<1μm)can cause DNA damage,cytotoxicity,and oxidative stress in various organisms.The primary known impacts of microplastic/nanoplastic are observed in the liver and respiratory system,leading to hepatotoxicity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Although research on the effects of MPs and NPs on diabetes is still in its early stages,there are potential concerns.This editorial highlights the risk to diabetics from co-exposure to contaminants and MPs/NPs,supported by evidence from animal studies and the various chemical compositions of MPs/NPs.
文摘With the arrival of a high temperature of 30℃,summer begins.However,for many people,summer has become the beginning of a'nightmare'.Many people can't sleep at night but feel sleepy during the day,sweating profusely when they don't turn on the air conditioning,and waking up frozen in the middle of the night when they turn on the air conditioning.Even worse,many people are trapped in a vicious cycle of shallow sleep,frequent dreams,and morning drowsiness.This leads us to ask,why do we always have trouble sleeping in summer?
基金Supported by the Program of Sustainable Development and Protection of Artemia Resources in Yuncheng Salt Lake of China(No.YHYJ-2023005)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)are one of the most concerning pollutants that affects the health and growth of aquatic organisms.We characterized the MPs dispersion in the milli-Q water and seawater,and evaluated the effects of MPs on the gut epithelial cells of brine shrimp using three sizes of polystyrene(PS)microbeads(0.05,0.5,and 5μm,respectively).Results show that microbeads evenly dispersed in milli-Q water,but exhibited aggregation tendency in seawater associating with the particle size.Apart from a reduced survival rate,we observed the structure changes in the gut epithelium that the smaller size of PS microbeads resulted in an increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)and higher apoptosis-related genes expression.Moreover,exposure to all size of PS microbeads led to increased green fluorescence of J-monomer,indicating the declined mitochondrial membrane potential.Therefore,exposure to PS microbeads led to significantly size-dependent toxicity on brine shrimp.Especially,0.05-μm PS microbeads were more toxic,leading to severe oxidative stress and activation of the p53-Bax-Bcl2 pathway,ultimately resulting in cellular apoptosis and gut damage.These findings are important to understand the mechanism of MPs toxicity and its potential ecological risks to marine aquatic animals.
基金Supported by the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory、Zhanjiang(No.ZJW-2019-08)APN、CRRP2019-09MYOnodera、Shinichi Onodera、and the SCS Scholar Grant(No.002029002008/2019)。
文摘Plastic pollution and microplastics in sediments are a growing concern for marine ecosystems worldwide.We examined the vertical distribution and properties of microplastics in beach sediments of Xuwen Coral Reef National Nature Reserve,in Leizhou Peninsula,Zhanjiang,China.Sediment samples were taken in seven locations at 5-cm intervals from the surface to a depth of 30 cm.The vertical distribution of microplastic particles ranged from 0 to 1340 particles per kg on average of 119.05particles per kg.The most prevalent material was fibers(76%),followed by film(12%),fragments(11.2%),and foam(0.8%).The microplastics in size of 1-2 mm constituted the largest percentage(40%)of the total,followed by those in size of<1 mm(26.4%),2-3 mm(21.2%),3-4 mm(9.6%),and 4-5 mm(2.81%).Site S1 observed maximum sizes between 1 and 2 mm,S2 reported higher availability of microplastics with sizes ranging from 0.3 to 1 mm.Six different types of polymers were identified in the investigation,and mostly were polyethylene(PE)and polypropylene(PP).In general,the observation of microplastics in deeper sediments indicates that they have the ability to last for prolonged periods in the marine environment,which may present long-term hazards to benthic creatures.In conclusion,the discovery of microplastics in deep layers of coastal sediments highlights the necessity of minimizing plastic waste and enhancing management strategies to safeguard marine environments.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFD1700803)the Province Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu,China(No.D21YFD17008)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41771295).
文摘Due to their resistance to degradation,wide distribution,easy diffusion and potential uptake by organisms,microplastics(MPs)pollution has become a major environmental concern.In this study,PEG-modified Fe_(3)O_(4)magnetic nanoparticles demonstrated superior adsorption efficiency against polyethylene(PE)microspheres compared to other adsorbents(bare Fe_(3)O_(4),PEI/Fe_(3)O_(4)and CA/Fe_(3)O_(4)).Themaximumadsorption capacity of PEwas found to be 2203 mg/g by adsorption isotherm analysis.PEG/Fe_(3)O_(4)maintained a high adsorption capacity even at low temperature(5℃,2163 mg/g),while neutral pH was favorable for MP adsorption.The presence of anions(Cl^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),HCO_(3)^(-),NO_(3)^(-))and of humic acids inhibited the adsorption of MPs.It is proposed that the adsorption process was mainly driven by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.Overall,the study demonstrated that PEG/Fe_(3)O_(4)can potentially be used as an efficient control against MPs,thus improving the quality of the aquatic environment and of our water resources.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U20A20103)the Scientific Research Fund of the Fourth Institute of Oceanography+1 种基金Guangxi Funding Project(No.304024XM20N0006)the Guangxi Talent Science and Technology Project(No.2019AC17008)。
文摘In this study,the occurrence,sources,and ecological risk of microplastics(>60μm)in the surface and bottom seawater were investigated in the Beibu Gulf,the northern South China Sea.The average abundance of microplastics in surface and bottom waters was 1.35±0.93 and 0.79±0.50 items/m~3,respectively.Microplastics in both surface and bottom waters were predominantly in the form of fragments,and mostly in green.The composition of microplastics in surface water was primarily poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMA),whereas in bottom water,polyethylene(PE)dominated.Positive matrix factorization(PMF)modeling revealed that the primary sources of microplastics were pipeline abrasion,fishing activities,plastic waste,landfill disposal,transportation,aquaculture,and construction activities.The pollution load index(PLI)indicated that the overall risk of microplastic pollution in the Beibu Gulf was low.Conversely,the polymer hazard index(PHI)for microplastics was relatively high.These data underscore the importance of timely and effective reduction of human-intensive activities contributing to microplastic pollution and provide valuable information for further research in microplastic ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry.
基金the Laoshan Laboratory(No.LSKJ202203901)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China(No.ZR2021MD079)+1 种基金the APEC Cooperation Fund(No.WJ1323001)the Asian Cooperation Fund(Nos.WJ1223001,WJ0923015)。
文摘To explore the relationship of microplastic pollution in different media in marine environment,microplastics in the surface seawater and sediments of Laizhou Bay,Bohai Sea,North China,were studied.Seawater samples were collected using a pre-concentrator equipped with a 20-μm mesh size sieve,and sediment samples were collected by a box sampler.The shape,color,size,and type of microplastics were obtained by a stereomicroscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(ATR-μ-FT-IR).Results show that the abundance of microplastics in the surface seawater of Laizhou Bay was 858.3±573.2 items/m~3,and that of microplastics in sediments was 151.0±77.4 items/kg dry weight(d.w.)The microplastics in seawater and sediments were mainly fibrous.Meanwhile,the microplastics in seawater were mainly transparent,and those in sediments were transparent and blue.The highest proportion of microplastics in seawater was rayon(77.48%),followed by polyethylene terephthalate(PET,13.17%).The highest proportion of microplastics in sediments was rayon(73.66%),followed by PET(8.90%).The size of microplastics in 1000-2000μm accounted for the largest proportion of 28.54%in seawater,while that in 500-1000μm took 27.93%in sediment.Microplastics in seawater and sediment showed medium-level pollution.In seawater,microplastic abundance was higher in offshore and nearshore areas of Weifang.In sediment,microplastic abundance was higher in offshore and nearshore areas of Dongying.The results of the principal component analysis(PCA)indicated that microplastics in sediment exhibited greater stability compared to those in seawater.The microplastics in seawater and sediment show a positive correlation in terms of shape and plastic type,while exhibiting a negative correlation in terms of color.Overall,microplastics in sediments were smaller in size,and those in seawater and sediments had consistent size distribution characteristics in space.
基金Supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund (No.ZDYF2022SHFZ317)the Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology (No.2023B1212060047)the Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University (No.060302332301)。
文摘Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a common type of microplastics (MPs) often found in coastal areas especially aquaculture areas.It is considered as an important site for microbial colonization and biofilm formation,as well as a carrier of pollutants like heavy metals.However,the dynamic changes of bacterial communities attached to EPS and their interaction with heavy metals are still poorly unknown.In this study,a one-year field exposure experiment was conducted at an aquaculture farm near Donghai Island,in Leizhou Bay,Zhanjiang,Guangdong,in South China Sea.The bacterial communities attached to EPS MPs were examined by 16S r DNA high-throughput sequencing,and the relationships between bacterial biofilms and heavy metals were explored.The results show that there were notable seasonal variations in the bacterial diversity of EPS MPs.Species biodiversity was the highest in summer and the lowest in winter.The greatest number of bacterial species and lowest level of uniformity were observed in the spring.The bacterial community structure changed with exposure time,and the most significant difference in the 12-month group (P<0.05) was found.The dominant bacterial species attached to EPS MPs were mainly Proteobackteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level,and Pseudomonas and Exiguobacterium were dominant at the genus level.Furthermore,EPS MPs acted as transport carriers for potential pathogenic bacteria.High correlations were found between bacterial species and the total concentration of heavy metals on EPS MPs,as well as their speciation fractions.Different chemical speciation of heavy metals migrated and altered over seasons within biofilms,which would further exacerbate the ecological risks.
基金Supported by the Pioneer and Leading Goose R&D Program of Zhejiang(No.2023C03130)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2019YFD0901101)+4 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42076169)the Oceanic Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(Nos.SL2022ZD203,SL2022MS012)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Founds for Distinguished Young Scientists(No.LR21D060001)the State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics(No.SOEDZZ1902)the ChinaAPEC Cooperation Fund(No.2029901)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)have garnered significant international scrutiny as an emerging environmental pollutant,constituting one of the four principal global environmental threats and posing potential health hazards to humans.However,data on the impact of MPs on the early life of the commercially important fish remain limited.In this study,polystyrene microspheres(PS-MPs)(1 and 5μm)were used to investigate the effects of MPs on the growth,development,and metabolism in early life stages of large yellow croaker Pseudosciaena crocea.Results indicate that MPs were enriched in the gastrointestinal tract and gills of the fish.In addition,PS-MPs(1μm)exhibited no obvious effects on embryo hatching and heart rates,while increased the mortality rate(23.00%vs.control 14.99%)and decreased the body length(4098.61±447.03μm vs.control with 2827.04±254.75μm)of the larvae at the highest exposure concentration(5×10^(4)items/L).Metabolomics analysis revealed that PS-MPs(5μm)induced mild perturbations in phospholipid metabolism,specifically alterations in phosphatidylethanolamine(PE)levels.These changes influenced the cell membranes of juvenile fish,and consequently elicited inflammatory responses,disrupted lipid homeostasis,and affected other critical physiological processes.Ultimately,these effects may avoid the growth retardation and potential mortality.Therefore,PS-MPs could affect negatively the fish health in the early life stage,which has implications for aquatic ecosystems.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2016YFC1402201)the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association Project(No.DY135-E2-2-04)。
文摘Microplastic contamination is considered a major threat to the marine environment.Although microplastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean has been studied,its abundance,distribution,composition,and origin in the western Pacific Ocean remain unclear.Here,we investigated the abundance and distribution characteristics of microplastics in surface waters of the western Pacific Ocean and analyzed their potential sources.Results show that microplastics were widespread in the western Pacific Ocean,with abundance ranging from 0.03 to 2.36 particles/m^(3)(average 0.37±0.47 particles/m^(3)).Fibers/filaments and fragments were the main shapes of microplastics(71.6%)and the most abundant microplastic size class was<1.0 mm(42.4%).Significant differences in microplastic abundance were observed in different regions,with the lowest abundance in the South China Sea(0.03 particles/m^(3))and highest abundance in the seamount area in the western Pacific Ocean(0.58 particles/m^(3)).This study provides baseline data and insights into the fate and transportation of microplastics in the western Pacific region.
基金the Natural Science Key Foundation of Fujian ProvinceChina(No.2020J02002)+4 种基金the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund(No.ZDYF2022SHFZ317)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U2005207,41976216,41776088,42106224)the Norwegian Institute of FoodFishery and AquacultureGovernance of Marine Plastic Litter in the Arctic。
文摘Microplastic(MP)contamination is becoming a major worldwide concern,affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.This study investigated the source,distribution,and abundance of MPs in sediments from Dongshan Bay,Fujian,South China,emphasizing particularly the coastline region's susceptibility to tidal impacts in four study sites.The concentrations of MPs in the sediments in the four sites were high from 7.4 to 283.1 items/kg(dry weight).There were notable differences in abundance between the locations and tide levels.Tides influenced the distribution of MPs greatly;however,the estuary areas showed greater MPs abundance during high tide,due possibly to enhanced water turbulence and riverine inputs.Low tide indicated higher concentrations in coastal locations owing to accumulation.Popular varieties,including nylon,polypropylene,and polyethylene,were identified by polymer research,pointing to the origins from fishing,packaging,and mariculture industries.Potential sources were determined using the PCA-K-means statistical analysis,by linking the origins of MPs to domestic activities,fishing,mariculturing,shipping,and packing.Fishing and packing were shown in the Sankey diagram as the two main sources,but their effects varied with research locations and tidal regimes.This study clarified the intricate dynamics of MPs pollution,highlighting the impact of tides on its dispersal and the variety of sources that contribute to this widespread environmental problem in coastal areas.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)Shared Voyage Project(Nos.41776088,41976018,42049911,U20A20103,U2005207)the Natural Science Key Foundation of Fujian Province,China(No.2020J01412103)+5 种基金the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund(No.ZDYF2022SHFZ317)the Guangxi Talent and Innovation Base Project(No.2018AD19280)the Guangxi Funding Project(No.04024XM20N0006)the Beihai Science&Technology Project(Nos.201995037,202082031,202082022)the Natural Science Foundation of Xiamen City of China(No.502Z20227322)the China Scholarship Council(CSC Marine Scholarship)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)have recently emerged as a significant environmental problem with devastating consequences for organisms.Understanding MPs pollution in the Bay of Bengal is crucial for assessing its ecological impact on marine biodiversity and human health.This study examined the occurrence,spatial distribution,physical and chemical properties,ecological risks,and probable sources of MPs in estuarine and coastal marine environments in the northeastern Bay of Bengal.The average concentration of MPs in surface water of the Karnaphuli estuary,the Meghna estuary,and the southeastern coastal region were 916.7±462.6 items/m^(3),462.9±324.5 items/m^(3),and 350.0±190.5 items/m^(3),respectively,varying from 105.0±324.5 items/m^(3)to 1640.0±462.6 items/m^(3).In the sediments of the Karnaphuli estuary,the Meghna estuary,and the southeast coast of Bangladesh,the average amount of MPs were 94.3±33.1 items/kg,157.6±89.0 items/kg,and 134.3±38.7 items/kg,with a range of 60±33.1 items/kg to 334.3±89.0 items/kg.Most observed MPs were fibers(60.0%in the water;56.0%in the sediments),followed by fragments and lines.Detected MPs were dominated by polypropylene(20.7%)in the water,and acrylic(15.4%)in the sediment,black colored(76.2%in the water,72.7%in the sediments),and 200-500μm sized(48%in the water,37%in the sediments).Pollution Risk Index(PRI)indicated significant pollution levels(from medium to very high)in estuarine and coastal areas.Multi-statistical analysis indicated land-based inputs(tourists,local waste,agriculture,and industry)dominated the studied regions.The study emphasized the potential impact of MPs pollution on aquatic ecosystems,emphasizing the need for effective management,mitigation methods,continuous surveillance,and thorough evaluation.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xiamen (No. 3502Z20227322)the Natural Science Key Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2020J02002)+1 种基金the Social Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. FJ2024BF047)the Financial Research Projects of Fujian Province (No. 2024-48)。
文摘Penaeus vannamei, known as the whiteleg shrimp, holds significant economic importance in aquaculture. The intensive culture of P. vannamei poses substantial environmental risks, particularly in fragile ecosystems like estuarine mangroves. Although there is a consensus on the pollution and harmful effects of microplastics(MPs), study on the pollution and potential risks posed by P. vannamei in estuary mangroves remains scarce. Therefore, the extent of microplastic pollution was evaluated and the correlation between the properties of MPs and the potential risks they pose to P. vannamei was examined.The average MP abundance in P. vannamei from Jiulong River estuary was determined to be 0.46±0.03 n/g in five different polymers, i.e., polypropylene(PP), polyethylene(PE), polystyrene(PS), polyethylene terephthalate(PET), and polyvinyl chloride resin(PVC). The total percentage of PS, PE, and PET polymers was the greatest(73.85%), where PET and PP(26.16%) were highly correlated in size and shape. Small MPs(1-200 μm) come in irregular particles, fragments, films, and large-sized MPs(200-1 000 μm) were mainly foam-shaped. The hazard risk level of MPs in P. vannamei from Jiulong River estuary reached grade Ⅲ, and the overall hazard risk index(H) value was 593.66. Among all samples,PVC polymer accounted for the lowest proportion(5.52%), but the H value was as high as 582.42, which contributed 98.11% to the overall hazard risk index. Regardless of global or Chinese, the microplastic pollution of P. vannamei in the estuary is at a moderate level. The protocol for MPs characteristics and correlation in seafood should be the basis for the risk assessment framework. Further studies are needed to evaluate how the exposure to MPs poses a risk for human health.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0608503)the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province(23ZDFA017).
文摘Regarding the rapid shrinkage of the Arctic cryosphere, sea ice plays a significant role in the temporal storage,transport, and release of microplastics(an emergent pollutant) among atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial environments. However, there are sparse studies on microplastics in the landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice in the Alaskan Arctic region. Therefore, this study investigated characteristics and potential sources of microplastics in the landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice in the Alaskan Arctic(Point Barrow). The results found that the average abundance of microplastics in the landfast sea ice(220.6±140.1 items/L) was comparable to that in lagoon lake ice near Point Barrow(148.9±141.8 items/L). For different layers of sea ice cores, the maximum abundance of microplastics generally occurred in the bottom layer. The overall particle sizes for the detected microplastics revealed that the abundance of microplastics decreased with increasing size for both landfast sea ice and lagoon lake ice samples. Small-sized microplastics(≤50 μm) accounted for more than 80% of the detected microplastics,with the dominant shape being fragments. The predominant polymers in sea ice were polyamide(PA), polyethylene(PE), and polyethylene terephthalate(PET). Meanwhile, PE and rubber dominated the polymers detected in lagoon lake ice. These differences between microplastics in Arctic sea ice and lagoon lake ice further indicated the discrepancies in microplastic transport pathways and deposition. Microplastics in landfast sea ice were mainly affected by seawater transported from the Pacific Ocean into the Chukchi Sea. In contrast, microplastics in lagoon lake ice were mostly influenced by the seawater of the Beaufort Sea and local vehicle emissions(e.g., rubber). This study further highlighted that a large abundance of microplastics was widely distributed in the sea ice of the Alaska Arctic region and may pose potential risks to the local ecosystems.
文摘As a new type of pollutant,the harm caused by microplastics(MPs)to organisms has been the research focus.Recently,the proportion of MPs ingested through the digestive tract has gradually increased with the popularity of fast-food products,such as takeout.The damage to the digestive system has attracted increasing attention.We reviewed the literature regarding toxicity of MPs and observed that they have different effects on multiple organs of the digestive system.The mechanism may be related to the toxic effects of MPs themselves,interactions with various substances in the biological body,and participation in various signaling pathways to induce adverse reactions as a carrier of toxins to increase the time and amount of body absorption.Based on the toxicity mechanism of MPs,we propose specific suggestions to provide a theoretical reference for the government and relevant departments.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2022J05278)the Marine and Fishery Development Special Fund of Xiamen(No.23YYST064QCB36)。
文摘Coastal ecosystems are plagued by high levels of microplastic pollution.Conducting baseline surveys is crucial to comprehend the distribution and influencing factors of this pollution.The present study investigates the spatiotemporal variation and diversity of microplastic on the coastal beaches in Xiamen City,China,considering the combined effects of seasons,human activities,and physicochemical properties of sediments.It is detected that the abundance of microplastics in Xiamen beaches was 0.271±0.01 items/g.The abundance of microplastics in dry season was significantly higher than in rainy season.In terms of spatial variation,the beaches that attracted a larger number of tourists exhibited significantly higher microplastic abundance.The temporal pattern of microplastic distribution on different beaches varied greatly due to region-specific human activities(e.g.,mangrove restoration project)and sedimentary properties(e.g.,bulk density).When the assemblage of microplastics in the coastal area was viewed as a biological community,the Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou's index were higher in rainy season and in the beaches with high intensity of tourist activities,which suggests that the human activities and the surface runoff may contribute to the diversity of microplastics on coastal beaches.Future investigations are encouraged to combine controlled experiments and long-term monitoring at multiple scales to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and factors associated with microplastic pollution in coastal zone.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41961144011)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)pollution has emerged as a critical global environmental issue,for which rivers serve as key conduits for the transport of MPs from land to ocean.There remained a lack of clarity regarding the characteristics and transport patterns of MPs pollution in diverse environmental media and seasons within a river basin.The Jiulong River basin in Fujian,southeast China was studied as case,whose spatial-temporal distribution,pollution characteristics,and transport dynamics of MPs in both surface water and groundwater were analyzed.Additionally,the features of MPs in different land use types during the dry season were examined.Results show that in wet season,the abundance of MPs in river water varied from 840 to 12300 p/m^(3),with an average of 3920 p/m^(3);in groundwater,the range was 740-1820 p/m^(3),averaging 1107 p/m^(3);and from 68 to 951 p/kg,with an average value of 265 p/kg in the soil(dry weight).In dry season,levels of MPs in river water ranged from 580 to 8880 p/m^(3),with an average of 4034 p/m^(3);groundwater exhibited a range of 860-14980 p/m^(3),averaging 3453 p/m^(3).Fibers consistently dominated the morphology of MPs,of which polyethylene terephthalate was identified as the predominant composition in each environmental medium.Our findings underscore the spatial and temporal variability in distribution and contamination characteristics of MPs across different media.Notably,MPs abundance in river water and groundwater exhibited a seasonal pattern,being higher in levels in dry season than in wet season.The downstream transport of MPs was facilitated by surface runoff,in which MPs in groundwater and surface water could complement to each other.Furthermore,population density and human activities were identified as influential factors on the distribution and abundance of MPs.This study revealed the order of magnitude of difference in annual estimates of MPs entering the sea among different models.Additionally,the interception volume by mangrove forest in the Jiulong River estuary was estimated approximately 1.51×10^(10)MPs particles per year.Ecological interception shall be considered when estimating the fluxes of MPs into the sea.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2018YFC1004300,2018YFC1004302)the Science&Technology Program of Guizhou Province(Nos.QKHHBZ[2020]3002,QKHPTRC-GCC[2022]039-1,QKH-J[2022]YB614)+1 种基金the Science&Technology Program of Zunyi City(No.ZHZ[2021]294)the National Innovation Program for College Students in China(No.201910661012)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)have been widely detected in marine environments,yet the pollution in terrestrial fresh waters in economically underdeveloped and remote areas is poorly understood.We investigated the abundance and distribution of MPs in inland waters(including open waters in river,lake,reservoir,stream,and tap water and bottled water)in Guizhou,SW China,detected by Nile Red staining.Results show that MPs were detected in all samples,with the mean abundance of 3.5±1.9 items/mL in 34river water samples,3.9±1.9 items/mL in 14 lake and reservoir water samples,3.4±2.4 items/mL in 87 stream water samples,3.8±3.8 items/mL in 164 tap water samples,and 1.3±3.2 items/mL in 12 bottled water samples from 4 different brands.The MP abundance in open field waters(3.6±3.0 items/mL)was significantly higher than that in bottled water(1.3±3.2 items/mL)(P<0.05).The microplastics with particle sizes of 10-20μm accounted for more than 50%of all samples.The composition ratio of smalland medium-sized microplastics in open waters was higher than in tap and bottled water(P<0.05).The MPs abundance tended to increase with the decrease in particle size.Therefore,microplastic pollution varied in different degrees in open waters in economically underdeveloped and remote areas of the southwestern China,which is consistent with microplastic pollution in other similar water environments.This study provided a reference for understanding the microplastic content and pollution control in the inland waters in western and remote areas of China.
基金Supported by Zhaoqing University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students (X202410580130).
文摘This paper summarizes the mechanisms and environmental effects of interactions between microplastics and surfactants: surfactants adsorb onto microplastics surfaces through hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic forces, changing their surface properties and transport behavior. In addition, microplastics act as carriers influencing surfactant distribution. Environmental factors (pH, ionic strength, etc. ) significantly regulate this process. Current research still has limitations in areas such as desorption kinetics and combined pollution effects, necessitating in-depth studies under environmentally relevant conditions to provide a basis for risk assessment.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42107268)the“Digital+”Discipline Construction Management Project of Zhejiang Gongshang University(No.SZJ2022A008)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs)have garnered increasing research attentions due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and consequential impacts on both ecosystems and human health.Wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)are identified as major sources of MPs in aquatic environments,as they receive anthropogenic MPs from household and industrial sewer networks.Based on treated wastewater samples collected in October 2018 from a WWTP in Hangzhou City,China,the MP transport into the Qiantang River before heading into Hangzhou Bay,East China Sea,was investigated.To determine the abundance and characteristics of MPs,the quantities of MPs released into the environment from the WWTP in different treatment stages were estimated,and their migration was simulated using numerical modeling techniques.Results show that the abundance of MPs in the effluent of the WWTP was 1.3 pieces/L,with a daily discharge of 7.6×10^(8)pieces of MPs into the Qiantang River.Polyether sulfone(PES),rayon,and polyethylene terephthalate(PET)were identified from MPs,being dominated by polypropylene(PP).MPs predominantly displayed fibrous and fragmented shapes.Household laundering and plastic product usage were major sources of MPs,with mechanical wear during treatment potentially contributing to the transformation from primary to secondary MPs.After 45 days of transport simulation,a high abundance zone of MPs was observed in the southern region of Hangzhou Bay,with its diffusion range being influenced by the combined effects of river runoff and tides.The spatial distribution range was significantly greater during the spring tide compared to that in the neap tide,and there were varying degrees of MP accumulation in the upper reaches of the wastewater outlet as runoff decreased.This study integrated the emissions and transport of MPs from WWTPs to estuarine rivers,thereby providing valuable scientific guidance for future regional control measures and ecological risk assessments of MPs.
