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
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)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
Marine pollution poses a critical threat to biodiversity.The synergistic effects of microplastics,specifically high-density polyethylene(HDPE),combined with benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P)and heavy metals,on the physiology and ...Marine pollution poses a critical threat to biodiversity.The synergistic effects of microplastics,specifically high-density polyethylene(HDPE),combined with benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P)and heavy metals,on the physiology and feeding behavior of the seahorse,Hippocampus erectus were studied.The growth parameters,pollutant bioaccumulation,enzymatic response,and feeding dynamics were extensively analyzed.Seahorses exposed to microplastics-borne B[a]P and heavy metals exhibited notable reductions in body length and weight,as well as in survival rates,indicating severe stress from these contaminants.The accumulation of pollutant particularly B[a]P in seahorse exceeded China’s national regulatory limit of 5μg/kg,and the B[a]P accumulation in seahorses was obviously aided by HDPE microplastics,posing a risk to marine organisms and human health via the food chain.The adaptive response of the seahorses was evident shown in the elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities,which is a biological mechanism to mitigate oxidative stress induced by the pollutants.However,this physiological adaptation comes at a cost,as evidenced by marked changes in the feeding behavior.Results show that the efficiency and frequency of feeding were greatly reduced,indicating a heavy impact on the ecological role and survival of this marine creature in polluted habitats.This research offers a crucial perspective on the compound threats of microplastics and associated pollutants in marine ecosystems.It highlights the urgent need develop comprehensive strategies to address these environmental issues.The findings are an important contribution to ecotoxicology,providing a deeper understanding of how microplastics act as vectors for other contaminants and their profound effects on marine life,especially species like seahorses.This study calls for action to strengthen environmental policies and practices aimed at mitigating the impact of marine pollution.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs),particularly polyvinyl chloride microplastics(PVC MPs)have become a notable environmental pollutant that affect various marine organisms such as Pinctada fucata martensii.As filter feeders,these biv...Microplastics(MPs),particularly polyvinyl chloride microplastics(PVC MPs)have become a notable environmental pollutant that affect various marine organisms such as Pinctada fucata martensii.As filter feeders,these bivalves consume significant volumes of water containing MPs,leading to contact with and ingestion of MPs.Moreover,given the ecological and economic importance of P.f.martensii in artificial pearl production,investigating the effects of PVC MPs exposure is crucial.This study aimed to investigate the effects of PVC MPs exposure on nucleus retention,pearl formation,oxidative stress by examining superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,catalase(CAT)activity,lipid peroxidation(LPO),and total antioxidant capacity(TAOC)of P.f.martensii,while also exploring transcriptomic changes at different concentrations and exposure time points,including a recovery period.The pearl oysters were exposed to PVC MPs at concentrations of 1-,2.5-,and 5-mg PVC MPs/L for 10 d followed by 6 d of recovery.After 1-,4-,10-d of exposure,and additional 6 d of recovery,samples were taken and analyzed.Findings revealed that only prolonged exposure(10 d)to PVC MPs affected SOD activity,while CAT activity,LPO,and TAOC remained unaffected throughout the experiment.Notably,SOD activity was restored during the 6-d recovery phase.Transcriptome analysis highlighted significant gene alterations linked to various pathways,affecting cellular processes,environmental information processing,genetic information processing,metabolism,and organismal systems,with an increase in pathway-related genes during recovery,implying a potential role of PVC MPs as gene inhibitors.This study provided insights into the effects of PVC MPs on P.f.martensii,shedding light on pearl retention,oxidative systems,and molecular pathways influenced by PVC MPs.Additionally,it contributed novel information on potential MPs exposure biomarkers,particularly relevant to marine organisms like P.f.martensii.展开更多
In recent years,microplastics(MPs)in freshwater lake have been receiving increasing attention;however,the microbial communities on the surface of MPs have not been well studied.To investigate the potential risk posed ...In recent years,microplastics(MPs)in freshwater lake have been receiving increasing attention;however,the microbial communities on the surface of MPs have not been well studied.To investigate the potential risk posed by MPs to the lake ecosystem and its surface microbial community structure,MPs samples were collected in September 2023 in the freshwater Dongting Lake,Hunan,China,at five sites,and the differences in bacterial species community composition and structure between MPs and water samples were analyzed.Results show that MPs(13.71±3.32 items/L)in the samples were mostly black in color,fiber in shape,and PES in composition,and those<0.5 mm in size are dominant.The bacterial composition in water was different from that on MPs.At phylum level,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Bacteroidetes were dominated in relative abundance in both water and MPs.Proteobacteria was more abundant in MPs than in water.The relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota was significantly lower in MPs than in water.At genus level,Pantoea and Pseudomonas were potentially pathogenic genera in MPs surfaces.The presence of Cyanobacteria and pathogenic bacteria is undoubtedly a potential risk to the deterioration of the water quality.This study revealed the difference in the distribution of bacterial community in water and MPs in Dongting Lake and provided new perspectives to further understanding of MPs pollution in freshwater lakes.展开更多
Ingestion of microplastics by various organisms has been widely evidenced.Chemicals associated with microplastics(MPs)may be released to digestive tracts upon ingestion.However,the effect of aging and temperature on t...Ingestion of microplastics by various organisms has been widely evidenced.Chemicals associated with microplastics(MPs)may be released to digestive tracts upon ingestion.However,the effect of aging and temperature on the chemical desorption for MPs remains poorly understood.The exposure of polyethylene(PE)particles to UV radiation in dry air,tap water,and sea water was conducted to mimic the aging process of MPs in different environments.Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),as a typical hydrophobic organic contaminant,were preloaded in these aged and pristine PE.The desorption was performed by exposing preloaded PE particles in simulated gastric and gut fluids at 25℃and 40℃.After UV aging,the average diameter of PE particles decreased rapidly with aging time,indicating continuously fragmentation of PE under UV exposure.The desorption of PCBs from PE particles under different conditions varied from 7%to 40%,and that from aged PE in gut fluid at 37℃was significantly higher than those under other conditions(P<0.05).Furthermore,a clear declining trend was observed as lg K_(ow)(octanol-water partition coefficient)value increased.The aging process,hydrophobicity of chemicals,and incubation temperature were important factors on the desorption of PCBs from PE.The present study helps understand the desorption of PCBs from microplastics and the potential risks of microplastics ingestion by organisms.展开更多
Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Au...Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.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
As the main component of electronic products,plastics contain complex and diverse metal additives.Recycling process is not conducive to stable existence of metal additives in electronic plastics.Once the e-waste plast...As the main component of electronic products,plastics contain complex and diverse metal additives.Recycling process is not conducive to stable existence of metal additives in electronic plastics.Once the e-waste plastics enter the environment,they will continue to release harmful metals into environment after aging,causing serious hazards.This study delved into the analysis and comparison of metal content of e-waste plastics,elucidating aging process and metal leaching behavior over a 112-day natural light exposure period.The findings underscored that metal content in recycled plastics surpassed that in their new counterparts.Specifically,Ti content in new plastics remained below 100 mg/kg,while recycled plastics exhibited Ti content surpassing 100 mg/kg threshold.Throughout prolonged natural light exposure,metals such as Zn,Ba and Sb demonstrated a heightened likelihood of release from electronic plastics in comparison to other metals.The aging process during light exposure led to fragmentation of electronic plastics,accompanied by a reduction in particle size.Notably,the particle size reduction was more pronounced in poly acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS)and recycled ABS,experiencing reductions of 40µm and 85µm,respectively.This phenomenon was attributed to the presence of polybutadiene structural units,which proved more susceptible to aging.Along with the breaking of plastics,the ABS plastics released metal species such as Pb,Cd,Ni,Al that had not been detected in other plastics solutions.The collective evidence from this study suggested that ABS and recycled ABS electronic plastics might pose a heightened potential environmental risk compared to other electronic plastics.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
As emerging pollutants,microplastics have recently received considerable attention owing to detection in various organisms and environments.Mass production and widespread use of plastic products increase their potenti...As emerging pollutants,microplastics have recently received considerable attention owing to detection in various organisms and environments.Mass production and widespread use of plastic products increase their potential risks to humans owing to their persistent,mobile,and toxic properties.Numerous methods have been used to identify and quantify the various forms of microplastics,however,unified standards do not exist.In this review,we systematically summarize the sources,migration,transformation,and analytical methods for microplastics in diverse ecosystems,particularly the most recent sampling and identification techniques.Additionally,the environmental effects and health hazards of microplastics on aquatic and terrestrial systems,as well as human beings are discussed.We also present management strategies for reducing microplastics in a broader social and policy context.This review aims to provide an overview of the migration,transformation,sampling,analysis,and environmental effects of microplastics,which addresses knowledge gaps in microplastic pollution and provides proposals for key research gaps.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
Microplastic contamination has emerged as a threat in transplantation,with evidence of its presence in human tissues and potential to compromise grafts.Transplant recipients,vulnerable due to immunosuppression and sur...Microplastic contamination has emerged as a threat in transplantation,with evidence of its presence in human tissues and potential to compromise grafts.Transplant recipients,vulnerable due to immunosuppression and surgical exposure,face risk from microplastics via airborne particles,surgical materials,and organ preservation systems.These particles trigger inflammation,oxidative stress,and immune dysregulation—pathways critical in rejection.Microplastics support biofilm formation,potentially facilitating antimicrobial resistance in clinical settings.Despite this risk,transplant-specific research is lacking.We urge action through environmental controls,material substitutions,and procedural modifications,alongside research targeting exposure pathways,biological impact,and mitigation strategies.Transplantation has historically led medical innovation and must do so in confronting this environmental challenge.Leadership from global transplant societies is essential to protect recipients and ensure safe procedures.展开更多
The issue of microplastic(MPs)pollution has received increased attention in recent years.Studies have indicated that inhalation of microplastics may result in the cardiovascular harm.However,the specific mechanism rem...The issue of microplastic(MPs)pollution has received increased attention in recent years.Studies have indicated that inhalation of microplastics may result in the cardiovascular harm.However,the specific mechanism remains to be elucidated.In this study,5μm polystyrene microplastics(PS-MPs)were employed to construct in vivo and in vitro exposure models to investigate the potential mechanisms of microplastic-induced cardiac fibrosis.In vivo model of respiratory exposure to MPs,echocardiography observed a decrease in systolic-diastolic function of the mouse heart,and myocardial tissue showed significant mitochondrial morphological abnormalities and myocardial fibrosis.In vitro models also revealed upregulation of fibrosis indicators in human cardiomyocytes AC16 cells.Transcriptome and RT-qPCR assay exposed that ferroptosis-related pathways were significantly gath-ered in the MPs group,with decreased expression of ferroptosis related genes SLC7A11 and GPX4.Liproxstatin-1(Lip-1),a ferroptosis inhibitor,significantly ameliorated MPs-induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and ferroptosis.We further demonstrated that inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor𝛼(HIF-𝛼)and oxidative stress ameliorated PS-MPs-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis,and thus upregulation of the HIF pathway and oxidative stress may be the upstream mechanism of MPs-induced ferroptosis in myocardial fibrosis.Above all,our study demonstrated that MPs exposure resulted in cardiac fibrosis via the HIF-ROS-SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.展开更多
Microplastics pollution and seawater temperature rise have been the major environmental issues,threatening the survival and biodiversity of marine organisms.This study evaluated the combined effect of temperature and ...Microplastics pollution and seawater temperature rise have been the major environmental issues,threatening the survival and biodiversity of marine organisms.This study evaluated the combined effect of temperature and polystyrene microplastics(MP)on Artemia,a filter-feeding crustacean that is widely used for environmental toxicology studies.Brine shrimp Artemia franciscana were exposed to three MP concentrations(0,0.2,and 2.0 mg/L)and three temperatures(22,26,and 30℃)for 14 d.In general,higher MP concentration and temperature led to a decreased survival rate and growth.Two-way ANOVA analysis indicated that the survival rate of Artemia was significantly impacted by both MP concentration and temperature(P<0.05),but there was no significant interaction between two factors(P>0.05).Growth of Artemia was significantly impacted by temperature(P<0.05),and with a significant interaction between two factors(P<0.05).Furthermore,the enzymatic activity,intestinal histological analyses,and immune gene expression were determined for Artemia reared at 30℃ with three MP concentrations(0,0.2,and 2.0 mg/L).The results showed that 2.0-mg/L MP resulted in reduced Artemia intestinal microvilli and exfoliated epithelia cells,significantly increased acid phosphatase(ACP)activity(P<0.05)and immunerelated gene ADRA1 B and CREB3 expression,revealing that higher MP concentration could induce oxidative and immunological stress on Artemia at 30℃.Overall,our study suggests that MP and temperature have combined adverse effect on Artemia,especially at relatively high temperature and polystyrene MP concentration.These findings are important to understand the potential ecological risks posed by these two factors on the organisms in marine environment.展开更多
Microplastics(MPs) are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size that have become a major environmental pollutant due to their ubiquitous and persistent nature. Microplastic contamination of the aquatic environment has...Microplastics(MPs) are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size that have become a major environmental pollutant due to their ubiquitous and persistent nature. Microplastic contamination of the aquatic environment has received the most attention so far, whereas the current understanding of MP prevalence and its impacts in the terrestrial environment is largely limited. The MP contamination of soil can cause bioaccumulation and toxicity in terrestrial animals and plants, which can consequently affect human health. This review is aimed towards combining the available information on the occurrence, sources, and effects of MPs on the different aspects of the terrestrial environment and to highlight the limitations in our knowledge regarding the nature and impacts of MPs in soil. The review also highlights microbial degradation of MPs as an advancing research area, with numerous microorganisms being identified as capable of efficiently degrading this persistent contaminant.展开更多
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 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 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 Marine Economic Development Project(No.GDNRC[2022]36)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFD0900206)the Tianjin Science and Technology Program Project(No.21YDTPJC00340)。
文摘Marine pollution poses a critical threat to biodiversity.The synergistic effects of microplastics,specifically high-density polyethylene(HDPE),combined with benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P)and heavy metals,on the physiology and feeding behavior of the seahorse,Hippocampus erectus were studied.The growth parameters,pollutant bioaccumulation,enzymatic response,and feeding dynamics were extensively analyzed.Seahorses exposed to microplastics-borne B[a]P and heavy metals exhibited notable reductions in body length and weight,as well as in survival rates,indicating severe stress from these contaminants.The accumulation of pollutant particularly B[a]P in seahorse exceeded China’s national regulatory limit of 5μg/kg,and the B[a]P accumulation in seahorses was obviously aided by HDPE microplastics,posing a risk to marine organisms and human health via the food chain.The adaptive response of the seahorses was evident shown in the elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities,which is a biological mechanism to mitigate oxidative stress induced by the pollutants.However,this physiological adaptation comes at a cost,as evidenced by marked changes in the feeding behavior.Results show that the efficiency and frequency of feeding were greatly reduced,indicating a heavy impact on the ecological role and survival of this marine creature in polluted habitats.This research offers a crucial perspective on the compound threats of microplastics and associated pollutants in marine ecosystems.It highlights the urgent need develop comprehensive strategies to address these environmental issues.The findings are an important contribution to ecotoxicology,providing a deeper understanding of how microplastics act as vectors for other contaminants and their profound effects on marine life,especially species like seahorses.This study calls for action to strengthen environmental policies and practices aimed at mitigating the impact of marine pollution.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province(No.2022A1515010030)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32102817)+3 种基金the Department of Education of Guangdong Province(Nos.2020ZDZX1045,2021KCXTD026)the earmarked fund for CARS-49,Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program(No.CXXL2022015)the Technology Program of Guangdong Zhanjiang(No.2022A01010)the Hengli Biosciences Excellence Project of Guangdong Ocean University(No.B23335-4)。
文摘Microplastics(MPs),particularly polyvinyl chloride microplastics(PVC MPs)have become a notable environmental pollutant that affect various marine organisms such as Pinctada fucata martensii.As filter feeders,these bivalves consume significant volumes of water containing MPs,leading to contact with and ingestion of MPs.Moreover,given the ecological and economic importance of P.f.martensii in artificial pearl production,investigating the effects of PVC MPs exposure is crucial.This study aimed to investigate the effects of PVC MPs exposure on nucleus retention,pearl formation,oxidative stress by examining superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,catalase(CAT)activity,lipid peroxidation(LPO),and total antioxidant capacity(TAOC)of P.f.martensii,while also exploring transcriptomic changes at different concentrations and exposure time points,including a recovery period.The pearl oysters were exposed to PVC MPs at concentrations of 1-,2.5-,and 5-mg PVC MPs/L for 10 d followed by 6 d of recovery.After 1-,4-,10-d of exposure,and additional 6 d of recovery,samples were taken and analyzed.Findings revealed that only prolonged exposure(10 d)to PVC MPs affected SOD activity,while CAT activity,LPO,and TAOC remained unaffected throughout the experiment.Notably,SOD activity was restored during the 6-d recovery phase.Transcriptome analysis highlighted significant gene alterations linked to various pathways,affecting cellular processes,environmental information processing,genetic information processing,metabolism,and organismal systems,with an increase in pathway-related genes during recovery,implying a potential role of PVC MPs as gene inhibitors.This study provided insights into the effects of PVC MPs on P.f.martensii,shedding light on pearl retention,oxidative systems,and molecular pathways influenced by PVC MPs.Additionally,it contributed novel information on potential MPs exposure biomarkers,particularly relevant to marine organisms like P.f.martensii.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52209048,52109083)the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Nos.2024JJ5207,2021JJ40100)+1 种基金the Special Fund for Building Chenzhou National Sustainable Development Agenda Innovation Demonstration Zone in Hunan Province(No.2022sfq51)the China National University Student Innovation&Entrepreneurship Development Program(No.S202310536023)。
文摘In recent years,microplastics(MPs)in freshwater lake have been receiving increasing attention;however,the microbial communities on the surface of MPs have not been well studied.To investigate the potential risk posed by MPs to the lake ecosystem and its surface microbial community structure,MPs samples were collected in September 2023 in the freshwater Dongting Lake,Hunan,China,at five sites,and the differences in bacterial species community composition and structure between MPs and water samples were analyzed.Results show that MPs(13.71±3.32 items/L)in the samples were mostly black in color,fiber in shape,and PES in composition,and those<0.5 mm in size are dominant.The bacterial composition in water was different from that on MPs.At phylum level,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Bacteroidetes were dominated in relative abundance in both water and MPs.Proteobacteria was more abundant in MPs than in water.The relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota was significantly lower in MPs than in water.At genus level,Pantoea and Pseudomonas were potentially pathogenic genera in MPs surfaces.The presence of Cyanobacteria and pathogenic bacteria is undoubtedly a potential risk to the deterioration of the water quality.This study revealed the difference in the distribution of bacterial community in water and MPs in Dongting Lake and provided new perspectives to further understanding of MPs pollution in freshwater lakes.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21936004)the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(No.SML2021SP208)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.21623118)。
文摘Ingestion of microplastics by various organisms has been widely evidenced.Chemicals associated with microplastics(MPs)may be released to digestive tracts upon ingestion.However,the effect of aging and temperature on the chemical desorption for MPs remains poorly understood.The exposure of polyethylene(PE)particles to UV radiation in dry air,tap water,and sea water was conducted to mimic the aging process of MPs in different environments.Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),as a typical hydrophobic organic contaminant,were preloaded in these aged and pristine PE.The desorption was performed by exposing preloaded PE particles in simulated gastric and gut fluids at 25℃and 40℃.After UV aging,the average diameter of PE particles decreased rapidly with aging time,indicating continuously fragmentation of PE under UV exposure.The desorption of PCBs from PE particles under different conditions varied from 7%to 40%,and that from aged PE in gut fluid at 37℃was significantly higher than those under other conditions(P<0.05).Furthermore,a clear declining trend was observed as lg K_(ow)(octanol-water partition coefficient)value increased.The aging process,hydrophobicity of chemicals,and incubation temperature were important factors on the desorption of PCBs from PE.The present study helps understand the desorption of PCBs from microplastics and the potential risks of microplastics ingestion by organisms.
文摘Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.
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the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2021B1515020041)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42277403)+4 种基金the Projects of International Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC-UNEP)(No:32261143459)the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control(No.2023B1212060002)the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(No.2023B0303000024)the High-level University Special Fund(No.G03050K001)the Research Projects of the General Administration of Customs(No.2022HK060)for financial support.
文摘As the main component of electronic products,plastics contain complex and diverse metal additives.Recycling process is not conducive to stable existence of metal additives in electronic plastics.Once the e-waste plastics enter the environment,they will continue to release harmful metals into environment after aging,causing serious hazards.This study delved into the analysis and comparison of metal content of e-waste plastics,elucidating aging process and metal leaching behavior over a 112-day natural light exposure period.The findings underscored that metal content in recycled plastics surpassed that in their new counterparts.Specifically,Ti content in new plastics remained below 100 mg/kg,while recycled plastics exhibited Ti content surpassing 100 mg/kg threshold.Throughout prolonged natural light exposure,metals such as Zn,Ba and Sb demonstrated a heightened likelihood of release from electronic plastics in comparison to other metals.The aging process during light exposure led to fragmentation of electronic plastics,accompanied by a reduction in particle size.Notably,the particle size reduction was more pronounced in poly acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS)and recycled ABS,experiencing reductions of 40µm and 85µm,respectively.This phenomenon was attributed to the presence of polybutadiene structural units,which proved more susceptible to aging.Along with the breaking of plastics,the ABS plastics released metal species such as Pb,Cd,Ni,Al that had not been detected in other plastics solutions.The collective evidence from this study suggested that ABS and recycled ABS electronic plastics might pose a heightened potential environmental risk compared to other electronic plastics.
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(Nos.21906179 and 22074098)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2021ZYD0047)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘As emerging pollutants,microplastics have recently received considerable attention owing to detection in various organisms and environments.Mass production and widespread use of plastic products increase their potential risks to humans owing to their persistent,mobile,and toxic properties.Numerous methods have been used to identify and quantify the various forms of microplastics,however,unified standards do not exist.In this review,we systematically summarize the sources,migration,transformation,and analytical methods for microplastics in diverse ecosystems,particularly the most recent sampling and identification techniques.Additionally,the environmental effects and health hazards of microplastics on aquatic and terrestrial systems,as well as human beings are discussed.We also present management strategies for reducing microplastics in a broader social and policy context.This review aims to provide an overview of the migration,transformation,sampling,analysis,and environmental effects of microplastics,which addresses knowledge gaps in microplastic pollution and provides proposals for key research gaps.
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.
文摘Microplastic contamination has emerged as a threat in transplantation,with evidence of its presence in human tissues and potential to compromise grafts.Transplant recipients,vulnerable due to immunosuppression and surgical exposure,face risk from microplastics via airborne particles,surgical materials,and organ preservation systems.These particles trigger inflammation,oxidative stress,and immune dysregulation—pathways critical in rejection.Microplastics support biofilm formation,potentially facilitating antimicrobial resistance in clinical settings.Despite this risk,transplant-specific research is lacking.We urge action through environmental controls,material substitutions,and procedural modifications,alongside research targeting exposure pathways,biological impact,and mitigation strategies.Transplantation has historically led medical innovation and must do so in confronting this environmental challenge.Leadership from global transplant societies is essential to protect recipients and ensure safe procedures.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82073520).
文摘The issue of microplastic(MPs)pollution has received increased attention in recent years.Studies have indicated that inhalation of microplastics may result in the cardiovascular harm.However,the specific mechanism remains to be elucidated.In this study,5μm polystyrene microplastics(PS-MPs)were employed to construct in vivo and in vitro exposure models to investigate the potential mechanisms of microplastic-induced cardiac fibrosis.In vivo model of respiratory exposure to MPs,echocardiography observed a decrease in systolic-diastolic function of the mouse heart,and myocardial tissue showed significant mitochondrial morphological abnormalities and myocardial fibrosis.In vitro models also revealed upregulation of fibrosis indicators in human cardiomyocytes AC16 cells.Transcriptome and RT-qPCR assay exposed that ferroptosis-related pathways were significantly gath-ered in the MPs group,with decreased expression of ferroptosis related genes SLC7A11 and GPX4.Liproxstatin-1(Lip-1),a ferroptosis inhibitor,significantly ameliorated MPs-induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and ferroptosis.We further demonstrated that inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor𝛼(HIF-𝛼)and oxidative stress ameliorated PS-MPs-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis,and thus upregulation of the HIF pathway and oxidative stress may be the upstream mechanism of MPs-induced ferroptosis in myocardial fibrosis.Above all,our study demonstrated that MPs exposure resulted in cardiac fibrosis via the HIF-ROS-SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Project of Tianjin Municipal(No.17ZXZYNC00060)the Yangtze Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China(No.IRT_17R81)+1 种基金the National Science Foundation of Tianjin(No.18JCQNJC78500)the Foundation of Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry(Tianjin University of Science&Technology),China(No.201704)。
文摘Microplastics pollution and seawater temperature rise have been the major environmental issues,threatening the survival and biodiversity of marine organisms.This study evaluated the combined effect of temperature and polystyrene microplastics(MP)on Artemia,a filter-feeding crustacean that is widely used for environmental toxicology studies.Brine shrimp Artemia franciscana were exposed to three MP concentrations(0,0.2,and 2.0 mg/L)and three temperatures(22,26,and 30℃)for 14 d.In general,higher MP concentration and temperature led to a decreased survival rate and growth.Two-way ANOVA analysis indicated that the survival rate of Artemia was significantly impacted by both MP concentration and temperature(P<0.05),but there was no significant interaction between two factors(P>0.05).Growth of Artemia was significantly impacted by temperature(P<0.05),and with a significant interaction between two factors(P<0.05).Furthermore,the enzymatic activity,intestinal histological analyses,and immune gene expression were determined for Artemia reared at 30℃ with three MP concentrations(0,0.2,and 2.0 mg/L).The results showed that 2.0-mg/L MP resulted in reduced Artemia intestinal microvilli and exfoliated epithelia cells,significantly increased acid phosphatase(ACP)activity(P<0.05)and immunerelated gene ADRA1 B and CREB3 expression,revealing that higher MP concentration could induce oxidative and immunological stress on Artemia at 30℃.Overall,our study suggests that MP and temperature have combined adverse effect on Artemia,especially at relatively high temperature and polystyrene MP concentration.These findings are important to understand the potential ecological risks posed by these two factors on the organisms in marine environment.
文摘Microplastics(MPs) are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size that have become a major environmental pollutant due to their ubiquitous and persistent nature. Microplastic contamination of the aquatic environment has received the most attention so far, whereas the current understanding of MP prevalence and its impacts in the terrestrial environment is largely limited. The MP contamination of soil can cause bioaccumulation and toxicity in terrestrial animals and plants, which can consequently affect human health. This review is aimed towards combining the available information on the occurrence, sources, and effects of MPs on the different aspects of the terrestrial environment and to highlight the limitations in our knowledge regarding the nature and impacts of MPs in soil. The review also highlights microbial degradation of MPs as an advancing research area, with numerous microorganisms being identified as capable of efficiently degrading this persistent contaminant.
