Review
Environmental Sciences
Sirui Huang, Ruitong Jiang, Nicholas J. Craig, Hua Deng, Wenhui He, Juan-Ying Li, Lei Su
Summary: The interaction between aquatic plants and macroalgae with microplastics has been given less attention compared to animals, despite their major roles as primary producers in ecosystems. We reviewed the literature on microplastics pollution in aquatic plants and macroalgae, summarizing the methodologies used and the abundances and characteristics of microplastics. The sampling and quantification of microplastics varied greatly between studies, leading to uncertainty in cross-comparisons. Our findings showed that different species had varying abundances of microplastics, with filamentous species containing more microplastics. The presence of vegetation increased the ratio of microplastics compared to unvegetated sites, and there was a high level of retention in the biotic fraction compared to the abiotic fraction.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Uhram Song, Jungkil Kim, Hojun Rim
Summary: Although knowledge about the toxicity of microplastics is still limited, this study investigates the phytotoxicity of 1-μm-sized fluorescent microplastics on free-floating aquatic plants Spirodela polyrhiza and Salvinia natans, as well as emergent aquatic plant Phragmites australis. The study confirms the uptake of microplastics by plants through detection of fluorescence, and demonstrates the phytotoxicity effect on S. polyrhiza and P. australis but not S. natans. This pioneering study provides a baseline for further research on fluorescent microplastic uptake and toxicity in aquatic plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Weixin Li, Xiaofeng Chen, Minqian Li, Zeming Cai, Han Gong, Muting Yan
Summary: The adverse effects of microplastics on gut microbiota in aquatic animals are dependent on the chemicals and biofilm present in the microplastics. Therefore, understanding the influences of these characteristics is crucial to grasp the consequences of microplastics ingestion by aquatic organisms. Research on the impacts of microplastics on gut microbial communities within aquatic animals, involving chemical components and biofilm, is necessary for future studies on this subject.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aashlesha Chekkala Vivekanand, Sanjeeb Mohapatra, Vinay Kumar Tyagi
Summary: Microplastics in the aquatic environment originate from various sources including everyday use, industries, and wastewater treatment plants. Their presence poses significant threats to aquatic life and human health, necessitating comprehensive assessment and control strategies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes, Mariana Perez dos Santos, Patricia Lawane de Freitas, Ana Marta Schafaschek, Emily Nentwing de Barros, Rafael Shinji Akiyama Kitamura, Volnei Paulete, Mario Antonio Navarro-Silva
Summary: In this study, the individual and combined effects of glyphosate and AMPA on the physiology of mosquito larvae were evaluated. The presence of the aquatic macrophyte, Salvinia molesta, was found to mitigate the toxicological impacts of the compounds by removing them from the water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanji Jiang, Shi Zhou, Jiao Fei, Zhiming Qin, Xianqiang Yin, Huimin Sun, Yuebing Sun
Summary: The adhesion of surfactant molecules on microplastics surfaces is influenced by the surface structure of the microplastics. This study aimed to investigate the migration of different microplastics under surfactant action. The results showed that the transport ability of microplastics followed the order of PTFE > PMMA > PE > PS > PP.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Merlin N. Issac, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian
Summary: Plastics discarded into water resources break down into microplastics, which are easily ingested by aquatic organisms and can accumulate harmful pollutants, disrupting the biogenic flora and fauna and ecosystems. The distribution and impact of microplastics in the marine environment raise concerns for environmental and marine life.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui Wang, Wei Huang, Yingshuang Zhang, Chongqing Wang, Hongru Jiang
Summary: This study investigated the adsorption characteristics of boron by microplastics and revealed the potential environmental risks of metalloid enrichment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: The interactions between microplastics and aquatic organisms have been primarily studied in animal species, particularly through dietary ingestion. However, recent research has indicated that microplastics can also interact with biota through bioadhesion. Bioadhesion has been observed in aquatic macrophytes and other species in the natural environment, as well as in micro-organisms retained by biofilms. Adhesion to biotic surfaces could influence the abundance and bioavailability of microplastics in the environment.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tao Sun, Junfei Zhan, Fei Li, Chenglong Ji, Huifeng Wu
Summary: The study found that microplastics can enhance biological performance and reduce oxidative stress biomarkers in aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. The responses varied among different biological endpoints, with stimulatory effects observed in consumption, growth, reproduction, and survival. The meta-regression analysis showed that the responses to MPs were independent of habitat, MP characteristics, and exposure duration. The findings suggest that exposure to MPs at low and high concentrations may lead to opposite or non-monotonic responses in aquatic biota.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Youna Cho, Won Joon Shim, Mi Jang, Gi Myung Han, Sang Hee Hong
Summary: Bivalves serve as useful bioindicators of microplastic contamination in the marine environment, with microplastics widely distributed in both coastal bivalves and waters. Despite the lack of significant relationship in the abundance of microplastics, their dominant features such as size, shape, color and polymer type were similar between bivalves and seawater. The study suggests that microplastic contamination is widespread in the Korean coastal environment, with bivalves reflecting the microplastic pollution characteristics of the surrounding waters.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher R. Farrow, Loong-Tak Lim, Josef D. Ackerman
Summary: This article introduces a biodegradable and non-toxic physical model for studying the dispersal of particulate matter. The study shows that alginate microbeads are a viable tool for dispersal studies, as their environmentally friendly and customizable properties offer improvements over non-biodegradable alternatives.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenyi Yu, Jiaqi Chen, Shenghu Zhang, Yanping Zhao, Mingliang Fang, Yongfeng Deng, Yan Zhang
Summary: Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are promising alternatives to conventional plastics, but their biodegradation conditions are strict. This study used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to comprehensively evaluate and optimize the extraction protocols of five biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) from aquatic species, and identified the optimal extraction method.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Huu Cong Vo, Minh Hen Pham
Summary: Microplastics have significant effects on aquatic organisms, with evidence limited on their ecotoxicological effects. Research shows that microplastics in aquatic environments absorb toxic organic chemicals and heavy metals, with concentrations exceeding safe thresholds. Microplastics from certain sources exhibit greater toxicity towards aquatic organisms, affecting various systems. Understanding the cumulative toxic expression of microplastics in different polluted environments is crucial.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jianlong Wang, Xuan Guo, Jianming Xue
Summary: Microplastics are a significant part of global pollution, with the ability to sorb pollutants and act as vectors. Biofilm-developed microplastics can sorb more pollutants than virgin ones, introducing pollutants and microorganisms into aquatic environments and organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Castano-Sanchez, Florian Malard, Gabriela Kalcikova, Ana Sofia P. S. Reboleira
Summary: The study developed a novel acute in situ protocol for testing field-collected organisms, which can accurately assess the impacts of stressors on groundwater ecosystems. The different species showed varying responses in different mediums and environments, with acclimation to laboratory conditions potentially affecting the results.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barbara Klun, Ula Rozman, Monika Ogrizek, Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: This study investigated the ecotoxicity of Bakelite microplastics and its leachates on aquatic organisms. The results showed that both the microplastics and leachates had significant effects on all tested organisms, although the degree varied. Leachates were more toxic to Daphnia magna, while particles had a greater impact on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Bioadhesion of Bakelite microplastics to the surface of Daphnia magna and Lemna minor was confirmed.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: The interactions between microplastics and aquatic organisms have been primarily studied in animal species, particularly through dietary ingestion. However, recent research has indicated that microplastics can also interact with biota through bioadhesion. Bioadhesion has been observed in aquatic macrophytes and other species in the natural environment, as well as in micro-organisms retained by biofilms. Adhesion to biotic surfaces could influence the abundance and bioavailability of microplastics in the environment.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriela Kalcikova, Rajdeep Roy, Barbara Klun, Ula Rozman, Gregor Marolt, Tina Skalar, Alexander Feckler, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: The adsorption mechanism of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) on polyethylene microplastics (MPs) and the resulting photocatalytic properties were investigated. Ecotoxicological assessments of MPs with adsorbed nTiO2 on the behavior of Daphnia magna under UV irradiation were also conducted. The results showed that nTiO2 were rapidly adsorbed on the surface of MPs, and both suspended nTiO2 and nTiO2 immobilized on MPs exhibited comparable photocatalytic properties.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ula Rozman, Anej Blazic, Gabriela Kalcikova
Summary: This study investigated the interactions between polyethylene MPs and the floating aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor. The results showed that the maximum number of adhered MPs was reached after 24 hours and increased with plant biomass. Slow water movement did not significantly affect MP adhesion. Among different adsorption models, the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model provided the best fit, suggesting weak binding of MPs to plant biomass. The study also found that 79% of MPs were removed during 15 cycles of phytoremediation, with an estimated 53 cycles needed to remove all MPs under test conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
