Polymer Types Of Microplastics Research Articles

Significant effects of Rural Wastewater Treatment Plants in Reducing Microplastic Pollution: A Perspective from China's Southwest Area

Sewage systems are a major source for microplastics in riverine exports to oceans. Urban areas are generally considered hotspots for microplastic discharge, whereas emissions from rural areas remain largely understudied. Hence, this study investigated the abundance, characteristics, and polymer types of microplastics in rural wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Guiyang and estimated the annual microplastic emissions of China based on sewage discharge. The influent abundance of microplastics was 3.8-8.2 items/L, the effluent abundance was 3.1-5.9 items/L, with a lower removal rate of 14.4%-54.6%, which might be influenced by lower operating loads and influent concentrations. Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed that polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was the predominant polymer type. Rural WWTPs were more effective at removing large-sized particles (> 0.1mm) and films, resulting in higher removal effectiveness by weight (49.1%) compared to urban WWTPs (30.8%). Based on the abundance of microplastics in WWTPs within the study area and China's annual sewage discharge, this study estimated the microplastic emissions released through sewage in China in 2022. The annual microplastic emissions through sewage in China were estimated to be 2995.7 tons, with rural and urban areas contributing 25.1% and 74.9%, respectively. Approximately 724.8 tons and 1001.6 tons of microplastics were removed from rural and urban WWTPs, respectively. This work indicates the unignorable emissions of microplastics from rural sewage and highlights the crucial role of rural WWTPs in reducing microplastic pollution.

Advances in the Separation and Removal of Microplastics in Water Treatment Processes

In this review, we comprehensively analyzed the distribution of microplastics （MPs） in major water ecosystems in China and the fate of MPs during the water treatment process. The removal efficiency of MPs with different colors, sizes, shapes, and materials was also discussed. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in the aquatic environment was geographically variable and closely related to human activities. Fibrous and transparent （white） microplastics were the most common features in China's water ecosystems and water treatment plants, with polypropylene （PP）, polyethylene （PE）, and polystyrene （PS） being the most common polymer types of microplastics. The removal efficiency of MPs varied from different treatment processes significantly. Pre-treatment and primary treatment in wastewater treatment plants （WWTPs） contributed the most to the removal. In the secondary treatment, the sedimentation tank showed more efficiency than the biological treatment processes. Tertiary treatment processes demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in achieving terminal control of MPs, especially membrane technologies. On the contrary, aeration and hydrodynamic effects may have increased the abundance of MPs in WWTPs. In drinking water treatment plants （DWTPs）, coagulation-sedimentation processes were found to be the most effective in removing MPs, followed by filtration and disinfection processes. Further, both pre-treatment and post-treatment steps also made significant contributions to MPs removal.

Characteristics, drivers and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the surface water of urban rivers in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities - A case study of Dongguan city

In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), microplastic pollution in urban rivers is a prominent problem due to the developed economy and high industrial intensity. Using the Xiaohai River, Hanxi River and Dongguan Canal in Dongguan City, an important node city in the GBA, as an example, microplastic characteristics, drivers and ecological risks in the surface water of three rivers were investigated. Results showed that the average abundance of rivers in the wet period (1646.22 ± 154.73 items/m3) was 4.7 times higher than that in the dry period (351.09 ± 34.2 items/m3). Microplastics were mainly in the form of fragments and fibers, with a size range of 30–500 μm, and appeared transparent with white color. The microplastic polymer types PE, PP, PET and PA accounted for more than 70%. There are large differences in the characteristics of microplastic pollution during different hydrological periods. Redundancy analysis showed that the distribution of plastics, chemical materials, packaging and printing industries along the rivers dominated the differences in microplastic abundance. The electronic information industry contributed most to the composition of microplastic polymer types. The polymer hazard index, pollution load index, and potential ecological risk index for rivers indicate a medium-high risk classification or higher. Therefore, the industrial layout along the urban rivers should be rationalized, the disposal of microplastics in wastewater should be increased, and the use of green plastic products should be promoted. This study provides support for the management of microplastic pollution in urban surface water in the GBA.

Microplastic pollutants in sediments from a water supply reservoir: Spatial heterogeneity in abundance, characteristics and pollution evaluation

When assessing microplastics (MPs) in freshwater ecosystems, previous studies have primarily focused on natural rivers and lakes, with limited attention to urban water source areas. Sediments, recording the steady process of MPs accumulation during a long period of time, can act as an important sink for MPs. In this study, we investigated the distribution, characteristics and pollution evaluation of MP contaminants in sediments of a water supply reservoir of Hefei City (the Dafangying Reservoir). Meanwhile, the differences of MP concentrations in sediments in rural and urban areas were also compared. Our results detected five shapes, seven colors and six polymer types of MPs in sediments of the Dafangying Reservoir. Polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene were the most abundance types of MPs identified. The average MPs abundance of sediments in rural areas was 83.20 ± 32.99 n/100 g dry weight (d.w.), and 182.67 ± 72.21 n/100 g (d.w.) in urban areas. The total MP concentrations were significantly higher in sediments of urban sites than that in rural sites, which can be ascribed to more complex and diverse MP sources triggered by intensive anthropogenic activity in cities. Specifically, we also demonstrated significantly higher microbead abundance in urban sites, which may result from the widespread use of microbead in personal care products. Given the complexity and diversity of MPs in urban areas, we exhibited a relatively higher abundance of MPs in the Dafangying Reservoir than that in other rural larger reservoirs. According to the index of geoaccumulation, the sedimentary MPs were assessed as moderately polluted. Our study enriches valuable data on the distribution of MPs contaminants in water supply reservoir, and provides theoretical references for MPs control and management in reservoir ecosystems.

Microplastic burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along semi-rural and urban streams in southwest Virginia, USA

Our comparative assessment is the first study to investigate microplastic body burden in native (Cambarus appalachiensis) and non-native (Faxonius cristavarius) crayfish along a semi-rural and urban stream across different seasons. Crayfish, sediment, and surface water were collected, processed, and characterized using μRaman spectroscopy to compare microplastic polymer types and shapes across compartments. Average surface water concentrations were significantly higher in our urban stream compared to our semi-rural stream (17.3 ± 2.4 particles/L and 9.9 ± 1.3 particles/L, respectively; P = 0.015). Average sediment concentrations were similar between urban and semi-rural streams (140 ± 14.5 particles/kg and 139 ± 22.5 particles/kg, respectively; P = 0.957). Our findings showed a significant interactive effect of season, site, and nativity (i.e., species) regarding microplastic body burden in crayfish (P = 0.004). The smaller, non-native crayfish amassed more microplastic particles than the native crayfish (0.4–2.0 particles/g versus 0.4–0.8 particles/g, respectively). Fibers and fragments were the most common polymer shapes across compartments, with white and black being the dominant particle colors. Our study identified 13 plastic polymer types in crayfish and three in surface water and sediment; polypropylene was the most common polymer across compartments. This study provides evidence that crayfish body burden of microplastics can differ across species, seasons, and locations, highlighting the need for future studies to consider that sublethal impacts associated with microplastic body burden may vary by region and species.

Spatial distribution, morphology, and risk assessment of microplastics in sediment from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Microplastics (MPs) (<5 mm) are a growing environmental problem and have garnered significant global interest from scientists and policy makers. Coastal ecosystems are vulnerable to MP pollution, and assessing their sources, fate, and transport in the environment is imperative for marine ecosystem health. Data for marine sediment are still limited, particularly in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) ecosystem in China. Here, we assessed the abundance, characteristics, and risks of MPs in marine sediment from PRE. MPs abundance ranged from 2.05 × 103 items ·kg−1 to 7.75 × 103 items ·kg−1 (dry weight), and white and black MPs were the dominant colors. The majority (>64.12 %) of detected MPs were <0.85 mm and primarily consisted of pellets (36.84 %) and fragments (29.65 %). Three polymer types of MPs were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) including polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP). Polyurethane (PU) sponge was reported for the first time in this study area. Observations of the surface morphology of typical MPs using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that all MPs exhibited varying degrees of erosion, characterized by cracks, folds, and bumpy structures. Based on type and quantity of MPs and the polymers identified, we assessed and classified the risk of MP contamination in PRE sediment as category III, indicating severe ecosystem contamination. Our results may serve as an effective model for other estuaries facing similar pollution regimes and provides valuable information for marine sediment risk assessment.

Microplastics increase the microbial functional potential of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in a freshwater lake: A metagenomic study

Aquatic ecosystems are being increasingly polluted by microplastics (MPs), which calls for an understanding of how MPs affect microbially driven biogenic element cycling in water environments. A 28-day incubation experiment was conducted using freshwater lake water added with three polymer types of MPs (i.e., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene) separately or in combination at a concentration of 1 items/L. The effects of various MPs on microbial communities and functional genes related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycling were analyzed using metagenomics. Results showed that Sphingomonas and Novosphingobium, which were indicator taxa (genus level) in the polyethylene treatment group, made the largest functional contribution to biogenic element cycling. Following the addition of MPs, the relative abundances of genes related to methane oxidation (e.g., hdrD, frhB, accAB) and denitrification (napABC, nirK, norB) increased. These changes were accompanied by increased relative abundances of genes involved in organic phosphorus mineralization (e.g., phoAD) and sulfate reduction (cysHIJ), as well as decreased relative abundances of genes involved in phosphate transport (phnCDE) and the SOX system. Findings of this study underscore that MPs, especially polyethylene, increase the potential of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O) and water pollution (PO43−, H2S) in freshwater lakes at the functional gene level.

INSIGHTS INTO MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM: A SHORT REVIEW OF SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS METHODS

The prevalence of microplastics in the environment and their potential adverse impacts on wildlife and human well-being make them a pressing global ecological issue. The objective of this review is to provide better understanding prevalence and distribution of microplastics, factors influencing their concentration and transport, the sampling technique and polymer identification analysis used in various studies and future research needs. The identification of microplastic polymer types is also explored, including techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. It also points out the many types of sampling equipment and materials, as well as sample preparation and analysis. Sampling method and polymer identification analysis of microplastics may vary on the circumstances of the location and question of the research. Suitable and standardize for both methods should be prioritized to ensure reliable and precise collection of data regarding the microplastic in river and estuarine.

Analysis of Microplastics on Digestive and Respiration System of Horse-Eye Jack Fish (Caranx latus) in Coastal Bungus Bay, West Sumatra

Microplastic pollution accumulates in the marine environment, thus impacting the health of marine organisms. The purpose of this study was to analyze and identify the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in Horse-Eye Jack fish (Caranx latus) in coastal Bungus Bay, West Sumatra. Fish samples were taken at three different locations, namely, Sako beach, Caroline Beach, and the east side of Bungus Bay. The average abundance of microplastics in horse-eye Jack fish samples in digestive is 21.63 ± 3.99 particles/fish, and in respiration, 9.23 ± 1.92 particles/fish. The shape identified forms of microplastics are fibers, films, fragments, granules, and foam, and the dominant color of microplastics is red. The most common size of microplastics found was &lt;0.5 mm. FT-IR spectroscopy analysis showed that the polymer types of microplastics found were PE, PVC, PET, and PS. Statistical tests showed differences between the abundance of microplastics in two pathways of microplastic uptake (digestive and respiration), and the sampling location P&lt;0.05. The results showed that microplastics were found in all Horse-Eye Jackfish samples in Bungus Bay, West Sumatra.These findings highlight microplastics' harm to the marine ecosystem and the necessity of managing plastic waste if we hope to avoid future plastic pollution catastrophes

Occurrence characteristics and potential risk of microplastics under different land conditions

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has caused widespread concern, more researchers have focused on MPs in farmland soil. However, the distribution of MPs in different land use types, land restoration years and crop types remained largely unexplored. Therefore, the study investigated the distribution characteristics and evaluated ecological risk of MPs in soil of northern Shaanxi Province, China. The abundance, particle size, morphology and polymer types of MPs in soil were analyzed by sample collection, Raman spectroscopy and laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LDIR). The ecological risk index (H) and pollution load index (PLI) were employed to assess the risks posed by MPs in the soil. It was shown that the concentration of MPs in farmland soil was the highest (4483 items·kg−1) among the different land use types. The average abundance of microplastics in farmland soil was 1.98 times than that in industrial park soil. An increase in restoration years corresponded with a decrease in MPs abundance and an increase in smaller-sized MPs. In addition, the content of MPs in the soil of perennial crops was more stable, with fluctuations less than 25%, and the size of MPs was smaller than that of the annual crops. The main types of MPs in the soil of the study area were PP (28.5%) and PET (24.1%), MPs with size between 20 and 40 μm were dominated. Based on the pollution load index (PLI), 51.9% of the sampling sites were categorized as moderately polluted, and the MPs pollution risk of farmland soil was the highest. Mild and moderate pollution caused fewer adverse impact, while extremely strong pollution was detrimental to ecosystems and human health. In general, the study would provide a foundational understanding of MPs pollution levels and environment risk associated with different land use types, land restoration years and crop types.

Characterization of Microplastic Surface Bacterial Community Structure and Prediction of Ecological Risk in Poyang Lake, China

In recent years, the environmental pollution of microplastics in Poyang Lake has received increasing attention. Baisha Lake of Poyang Lake was selected as the study area, and samples of water and sediments of Baisha Lake and the microplastics therein were collected, and the polymer types of microplastics were identified as polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) using Fourier infrared spectroscopy. We also analyzed the structural composition of bacterial communities in water, in sediments, and on microplastic surfaces using 16S high-throughput sequencing. The species richness and diversity of bacteria on the microplastic surfaces were lower than those in the surrounding water and sediments. The results of NMDS analysis showed that the bacterial community structures on the microplastic surfaces differed greatly from those in the surrounding sediments and water. The bacterial community composition in water and sediment differed from that on the microplastic surfaces, and the dominant bacterial phyla on the microplastic surfaces were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, and their relative abundance on the microplastic surfaces was higher than that in sediment. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was higher than that in water. The relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota were significantly lower than that of water. Massilia and Pseudomonas were the dominant genera on the microplastic surfaces, and their relative abundances were significantly higher than those in the surrounding water and sediments. BugBase phenotype prediction revealed that the relative abundance of contains mobile elements, biofilm formation, potential pathogenicity, and stress tolerance phenotypes of microplastic bacterial communities were significantly higher than those of the surrounding water and sediments. The results revealed that microplastics may have contributed to the spread of harmful bacteria, including pathogenic bacteria, and increased the potential pathogenicity of bacterial communities. Additionally, microplastic surface bacterial communities had higher phenotypes of mobile gene element content. Revealing the potential harm of microplastic pollution to wetland ecology at the micro level may provide a scientific reference for maintaining the ecological stability of wetlands.

Accumulation of microplastics in bivalves within the Chandragiri River in South-Western India

The pervasive presence of microplastics within river ecosystems has a profound and often underestimated detrimental impact. These minuscule yet persistent particles have infiltrated diverse biological habitats, making their detrimental effects on aquatic life increasingly concerning worldwide. The ability of microplastics to accumulate within aquatic organisms further exacerbates this concern. Consequently, the monitoring of microplastic pollution in surface water environments has emerged as a crucial endeavour, offering invaluable insights into the extent of this ecological threat. This study delved into the contamination levels of microplastics within two bivalve species, Perna viridis and Villorita cyprinoides, along the Chandragiri River in Kerala and Karnataka, South-West India, spanning eight distinct locations. The investigation yielded a significant discovery, with a total of 667 microplastic particles extracted from 288 individuals. On average, each individual bivalve harboured approximately 2.31 ± 0.93 microplastic items. Notably, these microplastic particles exhibited a wide range of morphological characteristics, underscoring their diverse origins and pathways into the ecosystem. Furthermore, five polymer types of microplastics were unequivocally confirmed through FTIR-ATR analysis, shedding light on the types of plastics that pose a threat to the riverine ecosystem. The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of evidence highlighting the global threat of microplastic pollution, urging international collaboration and innovative solutions to prevent further contamination and remediate existing microplastic burdens in aquatic environments.

High-throughput absolute quantification sequencing reveals the adaptive succession and assembly pattern of plastisphere communities in municipal sewer systems: Influence of environmental factors and microplastic polymer types

Municipal sewer systems have received increasing attention due to the magnitude of the microplastic stock and its potential ecological impacts. However, as a critical aspect of the adverse impacts, little is known about the plastisphere that forms in these engineered environments. Using high-throughput absolute quantification sequencing, we conducted a systemic study combining field survey and laboratory batch test to explain the general plastisphere pattern and the role of environmental and polymeric factors in driving plastisphere succession and assembly there. We demonstrated the capacity of microplastics to support high levels of microbial colonization, increasing by 8.7–56.0 and 1.26–5.62 times at field and laboratory scales, respectively, despite the less diverse communities hosted in the resulting plastisphere. Sediment communities exhibited higher diversity but greater loss of specific operational taxonomic units in their plastisphere than in the wastewater. The former plastisphere had primarily an enhanced methanogenesis-oriented metabolic network linked to hydrolysis fermentation, hydrogen-producing acetogenesis, and denitrification, while the latter had a pronounced niche partitioning and competitive interaction network. Exogenous substrate flux and composition were key in stimulating plastisphere community growth and succession. Furthermore, the high nitrogen baseline facilitated alternative niche formation for plastisphere nitrifiers and denitrifiers, and the plastisphere pathogens associated with denitrification and plastic biodegradation functions increased significantly. The aerobic state also promoted a 1.71 times higher colonizer load and a denser interaction pattern than the anaerobic state. Selective filtering by polymers was evident: polyethylene supported higher plastisphere diversity than polypropylene. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms driving colonizer loads and the adaptive succession and assembly of the plastisphere in such a typically hydrodynamic and highly contaminated environment. The results help to fill the knowledge gap in understanding the potential role of microplastics in shaping the microecology of sewers and increasing health risks and substrate loss during sewer transfer.

Lacustrine plastisphere: Distinct succession and assembly processes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and role of site, time, and polymer types

Microplastics as a carrier can promote microbial diffusion, potentially influencing the ecological functions of microbial communities in aquatic environments. However, our understanding of the assembly mechanism of microbial communities on different microplastic polymers in freshwater lakes during succession is still insufficient, especially for the eukaryotes. Here, the colonization time, site, and polymer types of microplastics were comprehensively considered to investigate the composition and assembly of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and their driving factors during the lacustrine plastisphere formation. Results showed that the particle-associated microorganisms in water were the main source of the plastisphere prokaryotes, while the free-living microorganisms in water mainly accounted for the plastisphere eukaryotes. The response of prokaryotic communities to different microplastic polymers was stronger than eukaryotic communities. The assembly of plastisphere prokaryotic communities was dominated by homogenizing processes (mainly homogenous selection), while the assembly of eukaryotic communities was dominated by differentiating processes (mainly dispersal limitation). Colonization time was an important factor affecting the composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities during the formation of the plastisphere. The Chao1 richness of prokaryotic communities in the plastisphere increased with the increase of colonization time, whereas the opposite was true in eukaryotic communities. This differential response of species diversity and composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities in the plastisphere during dynamic succession could lead to their distinct assembly processes. Overall, the results suggest that distinct assembly of microbial communities in the plastisphere may depend more on specific microbial sub-communities and colonization time than polymer types and colonization site.

Microplastics in Different Tissues of a Commonly Consumed Fish, Scomberomorus guttatus, from a Large Subtropical Estuary: Accumulation, Characterization, and Contamination Assessment.

Microplastics (MPs) ingestion by fish signifies a worldwide threat to human health but limited research has examined their existence within the consumable portions (muscle) of fish. Thus, this study was undertaken to unveil the prevalence, characterization, and contamination extent of MPs across various body tissues, including the muscle of the king mackerel (S. guttatus) from the lower Meghna estuary in Bangladesh-a pioneering investigation in this region. In our analysis, we identified a total of 487 MPs, with an average abundance of 48.7 ± 20.3 MPs/individual. These MPs were distributed across different tissues, with respective concentrations of 0.84 ± 0.45 items/g in the digestive tract, 2.56 ± 0.73 items/g in the gills, and 0.3 ± 1.72 items/g in the muscle tissue. The observed variations among these tissue types were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant positive correlation indicated that fish with higher weight had higher MPs in their gills and DT (digestive tract). The majority were <0.5 mm in size (97.74%) and exhibited a fiber-like shape (97.74%), with a notable prevalence of transparent (25.87%) and a pink coloration (27.92%). Remarkably, the majority of MPs were discovered within the size range of <0.5-1 mm (100%), particularly in the muscle tissue, signifying a substantial transfer of MPs into the human diet. Besides, we discovered only three polymer types of microplastics which could be attributed to the extensive use of food packaging, plastic containers, wrapping plastics, residential garbage, and plastic pipes that end up in the aquatic environment via river discharges. The contamination factor (CF) values of fish muscle (5.75) and the digestive tract (5.50) indicated that these fish organs were considerably contaminated (3 < CF < 6) with MPs. The pollution index of MPs (PLI > 1) indicated a high contamination level for MPs pollution of S. guttatus in the lower Meghna River estuary.

Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Farmland Soil in Guyuan

The farmland ecosystem faces the emerging risk of microplastic pollution. To investigate the distribution characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils in Guyuan City, the abundance, type, color, size, and shape of microplastics in Guyuan City agricultural soils were analyzed using field survey, microscopic observation, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the risk of microplastic pollution was assessed using the pollution load index method (PLI). The results showed that the microplastic abundance of agricultural soils (0-20 cm) in Guyuan City ranged from 186.32 to 1286.24 n·kg-1, and the microplastic abundance of soils in facility agriculture increased significantly by 35.56% and 228.91% compared with those in non-facility agriculture with and without film, respectively, and the microplastic abundance in the arable layer was 0.31 times higher than that in the plough pan layer. PE (26.42% to 62.83%) and PP (27.64% to 42.62%) were the main microplastic polymer types, and the number of soil polymer species was significantly greater in facility agriculture than that in non-facility agriculture. Microplastics <100 μm accounted for 32.21%-42.52%, whereas >1000 μm accounted for only 0.28%-12.31%. The particle size of microplastics in the arable layer was 47.39% higher than that in the plough pan layer, and the particle size of microplastics was the largest in facility agriculture and the smallest in non-facility film-free planting. Microplastics were mostly in the form of films, fibers, fragments, and microbeads, with the greatest abundance in the form of fibers and the second largest in the form of films. A total of seven colors of microplastics were monitored, mainly white and black. The overall risk of contamination in the study area was low, and the highest risk of microplastic contamination was found in the soil of facility agriculture. The results of the study will provide data reference for the assessment of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils and microplastic soil environmental behavior in China.

The Presence of Microplastics in the Gills and Gastrointestinal Tract of Mackerel (Rastrelliger Kanagurta Cuvier, 1816) from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia.

This study examined the characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in the gills and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) captured in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia. All 120 fish contained MPs, with fragment > fiber > film being the most prevalent types, in that order. The total abundances of fragments, fibers, and films in the gills were as follows: 4.8 ± 1.6, 1.0 ± 0.7, and 0.3 ± 0.3, respectively. The total abundances of fragments, fibers, and films in the GIT were 5.9 ± 2.3, 1.3 ± 0.8, and 0.4 ± 0.4, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the abundance of fragments, fibers and films in both the gills and GIT of mackerel did not differ significantly between sampling locations. In the gills and GIT, MPs with sizes less than 0.1mm and MPs that were black in color were most prevalent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests on MPs from the tissues of mackerel showed that there were 8 different types of MP polymers, namely, latex, nylon, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), cellulose acetate (CA), polyurethane (PU), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Latex and polycarbonate were detected in fish samples from Jakarta Bay.

Characteristics and seasonal variation of microplastics in the wastewater treatment plant: The case of Bursa deep sea discharge

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging pollutant that can be detected in all ecosystems, especially aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important point sources of MP release into the sea. In this study, the characteristics of MPs in wastewater and sludge samples taken from different units of WWTP in Bursa-Gemlik district for 12 months were investigated. Wastewater and sludge samples collected from 7 different points were classified as size, shape, color, and counted. The amount of MP in the influent and effluent of the WWTP, respectively; 107.1 ± 40.2 MP/L and 4.1 ± 1.1 MP/L. Although the MP removal efficiency of the WWTP is 96.17 %, approximately 74,825,000 MP is discharged into the Marmara Sea every day. The amount of MP in the sludge is 14.3 ± 7.1 MP/g. The amount of MP accumulated in 22tons of waste sludge formed daily in WWTP was calculated as 314,600,000 MP, and the annual accumulated amount was calculated as approximately 1.15 × 1011 MP. The MPs in the WWTP were mainly 1–0.5 mm in size. Fibers were the dominant MP shape in both the wastewater and sludge samples. Black and transparent were the dominant MP colors. Seven different polymer types of MPs were detected, which were mainly types of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Despite the high removal efficiency in the investigated WWTP, it has been shown that it acts as an important source of MPs to the sea ecosystem due to the high discharge rates.

Quantification, characteristics, and distribution of microplastics released from waste burning furnaces and their associated health impacts

AbstractAlthough investigation of microplastics (MPs) present in air environment has been intensively carried out, quantification, characteristics, and distribution of MPs released from the waste burning furnace (WBF) has been missing in literature. The aim of this study was to characterize the presence of MPs released from WBFs and analyze their associated health impacts. The examined locations were at two WBFs (nominated as TPS1 and TPS2) in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. MPs were collected using a 9 cm diameter glass beaker for a period of 8 h at two different sampling points, which are 3 and 15 m from each WBF. Several characteristics of MPs in terms of the number of particles, size, shape, color, and polymer type were comprehensively characterized. This study found that the obtained MPs were of fiber type and in the range of 46–77 and 41–59 particles at TPS1 and TPS2, respectively. In general, the polymer types of MPs were, respectively, cellophane and polytetrafluoroethylene at TPS1 and TPS2. Moreover, it was estimated that about 1.9–2.3 MPs can enter the human body via inhalation. This study offers a pilot examination of MPs released from WBF and findings from this study are crucial to provide new knowledge as a basis to carefully regulate the use of WBF particularly that are located closely to local community.

Microplastics increase soil microbial network complexity and trigger diversity-driven community assembly

The widespread existence of microplastics (MPs) in soil has been extensively demonstrated, and their presence would ineluctably change soil physicochemical properties and microbial community composition. However, there is limited understanding of how MPs affect soil microbial assembly. In this study, three different polymer types of MPs, i.e., high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA), with the same particle size (100 μm) and dose (2%) were applied under the planted and unplanted condition, Pennisetum alopecuroides was chosen as a model species. Plant growth parameters, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial communities (including bacteria and eukaryotes) were determined. The assembly and the co-occurrence network of microbial communities were analyzed. Results revealed that the effect of MPs on soil physicochemical properties was type-dependent and could influenced by the presence of P . alopecuroides. MPs could enrich bacterial genera related to nitrogen cycle and some pathogens of eukaryotes. The presence of MPs changed bacterial and eukaryotic community assembly, in which diversity drove the deterministic/stochastic assembly processes. MPs addition increased the complexity of bacterial network, while had a minor effect on eukaryotic network. The inhibition of MPs on P . alopecuroides growth decayed over time, HDPE MPs was more harmful to P . alopecuroides growth than PS and PLA MPs. Our findings enormously improved our comprehensions of MPs-induced ecological impacts and interactions of soil bacterial and eukaryotic communities .