Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Clementina Vitali, Ruud J. B. Peters, Hans-Gerd Janssen, Michel W. F. Nielen, Francesco Simone Ruggeri
Summary: This article reviews the widespread contamination of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and discusses current analytical techniques. While various methods have been developed for the detection and characterization of these plastic particles, there is still a lack of a unique method that can provide comprehensive information. It is crucial to establish rigorous best practices to obtain reliable data and understand the occurrence of plastic particles in food.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Julien Gigault, Hind El Hadri, Brian Nguyen, Bruno Grassl, Laura Rowenczyk, Nathalie Tufenkji, Siyuan Feng, Mark Wiesner
Summary: Nanoplastics have unique characteristics compared to microplastics and engineered nanomaterials, including transportation properties, interactions with natural colloids and light, high proportion of particle molecules on the surface, bioavailability, and diffusion times for plastic additives release. Nanoscale plastics must be considered distinct from both microplastics and engineered nanomaterials.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Sechul Chun, Manikandan Muthu, Judy Gopal
Summary: This review elaborately discusses the potential of mass spectrometry (MS) for detecting microplastic (MP) pollutants. Various mass spectrometric techniques and their variants are reviewed, and future recommendations and directions are proposed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lingshi Yin, Xiaofeng Wen, Danlian Huang, Chunyan Du, Rui Deng, Zhenyu Zhou, Jiaxi Tao, Ruijin Li, Wei Zhou, Zeyu Wang, Haojie Chen
Summary: Microplastics and nanoplastics are widely distributed in the environment, and the interactions between vascular plants and these plastics involve aspects such as adsorption, absorption, and phytotoxic effects. There are still knowledge gaps in the relationships between micro/nanoplastics and vascular plants, highlighting the need for further research in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deonie Allen, Steve Allen, Sajjad Abbasi, Alex Baker, Melanie Bergmann, Janice Brahney, Tim Butler, Robert A. Duce, Sabine Eckhardt, Nikolaos Evangeliou, Tim Jickells, Maria Kanakidou, Peter Kershaw, Paolo Laj, Joseph Levermore, Daoji Li, Peter Liss, Kai Liu, Natalie Mahowald, Pere Masque, Dusan Materic, Andrew G. Mayes, Paul McGinnity, Iolanda Osvath, Kimberly A. Prather, Joseph M. Prospero, Laura E. Revell, Sylvia G. Sander, Won Joon Shim, Jonathan Slade, Ariel Stein, Oksana Tarasova, Stephanie Wright
Summary: The study analyzes the processes and fluxes of the marine-atmospheric micro(nano)plastic cycle and highlights the limited observations. A global observation strategy for marine-atmospheric micro(nano)plastics is proposed to address the uncertainties and knowledge gaps.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Virender K. Sharma, Xingmao Ma, Eric Lichtfouse, Didier Robert
Summary: Nanoplastics are more dangerous than microplastics as they are more abundant and reactive, and have the potential to reach remote locations and penetrate living cells.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Qingrun Liu, Zhe Chen, Yulun Chen, Fangwei Yang, Weirong Yao, Yunfei Xie
Summary: Current global concerns about food safety issues are relatively serious, with microplastics and nanoplastics being recognized as typical representatives of food contamination. Research and detection methods for microplastics and nanoplastics in food still have issues, and it is necessary to increase research on efficient separation and detection methods for them in the future.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yang Liu, Guanghui Xu, Yong Yu
Summary: This study investigated the influence of microplastics and nanoplastics with different sizes and concentrations on the accumulation of organic pollutants in earthworms. The results showed that microplastics facilitated the accumulation of pollutants by damaging the integrity of earthworm intestine, while nanoplastics inhibited the bacteria responsible for pollutant degradation in earthworms.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maxine Swee-Li Yee, Ling-Wei Hii, Chin King Looi, Wei-Meng Lim, Shew-Fung Wong, Yih-Yih Kok, Boon-Keat Tan, Chiew-Yen Wong, Chee-Onn Leong
Summary: Plastics have significant impacts on daily life but are often disposed of after single use, causing environmental issues. Concerns about toxicity of nano-plastics to the environment and human health exist, yet research on human health impacts remains limited.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Milica Velimirovic, Kristof Tirez, Sandra Verstraelen, Evelien Frijns, Sylvie Remy, Gudrun Koppen, Anna Rotander, Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez, Frank Vanhaecke
Summary: The development of analytical methods for characterizing microplastics and nanoplastics in air, as an emerging scientific field, is gaining attention due to the identified inhalation route of human exposure. Despite increased interest, there is still a lack of detailed knowledge on the sources, levels, and health impacts of indoor and outdoor microplastics and nanoplastics.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Clementina Vitali, Francesco Simone Ruggeri, Hans-Gerd Janssen, Michel W. F. Nielen
Summary: In this study, a method was proposed to combine atmospheric solid analysis probe (ASAP) with compact quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) for the chemical analysis of single particle microplastics (MPs). The method showed specific mass spectra for a wide range of single particle MPs and allowed for full characterization of MP contamination including particle number, size, shape, and chemical identity. The developed multimodal method was successfully demonstrated by the analysis of MPs in bioplastic bottled water.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Clementina Vitali, Francesco Simone Ruggeri, Hans-Gerd Janssen, Michel W. F. Nielen
Summary: In this study, a mass spectrometry method for the analysis of single particle microplastics (MPs) was proposed, which allows for the full characterization of MPs in terms of their quantity, size, shape, and chemical composition. The method showed specific mass spectra for various types of single particle MPs. Additionally, a multimodal microplastic analysis approach combining staining and fluorescence microscopy with ASAP-MS was developed, providing a comprehensive characterization of MP contamination.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jianli Yin, Ye Ju, Honghao Qian, Jia Wang, Xiaohan Miao, Ying Zhu, Liting Zhou, Lin Ye
Summary: This paper summarizes the adverse effects and mechanisms of microplastics on the liver and provides a valuable reference for understanding the liver toxicity caused by microplastics, highlighting the studies that have been published to date.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carmen Sorasan, Carlos Edo, Miguel Gonzalez-Pleiter, Francisca Fernandez-Pinas, Francisco Leganes, Antonio Rodriguez, Roberto Rosal
Summary: The generation of small fragments from the environmental ageing of microplastics (MPs) is still a poorly known process. This study investigated the fragmentation of MPs obtained from marine debris after exposure to accelerated ageing. The results showed the generation of a high number of small MP particles, which suggests a severe underestimation of the environmental presence of small MPs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Cheng Fang, Yunlong Luo, Ravi Naidu
Summary: Microplastics and nanoplastics, as emerging contaminants, present analytical challenges due to their small size, diverse composition, and complex environmental background. Research on nanoplastics lags behind that on microplastics due to the smaller size and weaker signal, making analysis more challenging. This review discusses recent advancements in the analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics, including sampling, sample preparation, testing, and data analysis. The unique properties of these contaminants complicate the sampling and sample preparation processes, which are rarely reported but crucial for subsequent analysis. Various techniques for morphological and chemical characterizations are compared, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Non-imaging analysis may introduce bias, and imaging analysis using micro-IR and micro-Raman spectroscopy shows promise in overcoming this bias. However, these techniques have limitations in terms of time consumption and resolution. Algorithms of chemometrics and artificial intelligence can be utilized to decode hyperspectral data and reconstruct images. Overall, this review addresses the challenges and advances in the analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics and suggests future research directions.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Miriam L. Diamond, Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, Jennifer Field, Fred Leusch, Greg Lowry, Margaret Mills, Peng Wang, Paul Westerhoff, Julie Zimmerman
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Quynh Anh Nguyen, Hang P. Vu, James A. McDonald, Luong N. Nguyen, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Peta A. Neale, Stuart J. Khan, Long D. Nghiem
Summary: This study investigated the chiral inversion of 2-arylpropionic acids (2-APAs) and the associated microbial community under anaerobic conditions. The results showed diverse chiral inversion behaviors of 2-APAs, with some compounds exhibiting unidirectional inversion and others showing bidirectional inversion. Several bacterial genera were identified in the anaerobic digesters and predicted to have the gene involved in chiral inversion, but they were present at low abundances, explaining the limited extent of chiral inversion observed in this study.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Kimberly A. Finlayson, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Jason P. van de Merwe
Summary: Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing is commonly used to ensure the safety of waste water discharges. With the shift towards in vitro alternatives, it is important to establish the ecological relevance and technical suitability of these methods. This review focuses on identifying in vitro bioassays for WET testing and relating them to ecologically relevant endpoints through toxicity pathways.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hsuan-Cheng Lu, Shima Ziajahromi, Ashley Locke, Peta A. Neale, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Wastewater and stormwater are important pathways contributing microplastics to the aquatic environment. However, little is known about the potential influence of constructed wetlands, a commonly used wastewater and stormwater treatment system, on microplastics. This study investigated the abundance and distribution of microplastics in water and sediment in five constructed wetlands with different influent sources. The results showed that constructed wetlands can retain microplastics in treated water and become accumulators of microplastics over time.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Julie Zimmerman, Jennifer Field, Frederic Leusch, Gregory Lowry, Peng Wang, Paul Westerhoff
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frederic D. L. Leusch, Hsuan-Cheng Lu, Kushani Perera, Peta A. Neale, Shima Ziajahromi
Summary: Microplastics come in various shapes, polymer types, and sizes. The lack of a standardized approach to analyze and quantify microplastics has led to significant disparities in reported data, making it difficult to compare microplastic abundance between studies. This study introduces a mathematical approach that allows for meaningful comparisons of microplastics irrespective of size classifications. By validating the method with two datasets and re-analyzing 127 publications, a negative linear relationship between microplastic concentrations and sizes was found across different environmental matrices. This method enables researchers to compare microplastic concentrations and estimate abundance, providing a better understanding of the risks microplastics pose to organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie Chaousis, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Colin J. Limpus, Amanda Nouwens, Liesbeth J. Weijs, Antonia Weltmeyer, Adrian Covaci, Jason P. van de Merwe
Summary: All seven species of sea turtle are facing increasing pressures from human activities that are impacting their health. Changes in blood proteins can indicate adverse health outcomes. This study examines the protein abundance in sea turtle plasma, compares protein expression between different populations, and investigates markers of contaminant exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Julie Beth Zimmerman, Jennifer Field, Frederic Leusch, Greg Lowry, Margaret Mills, Peng Wang, Paul Westerhoff
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kushani Perera, Shima Ziajahromi, Susan Bengtson Nash, Pathmalal M. Manage, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: This study discovered airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor air in Sri Lanka. Indoor microplastic concentrations were higher than outdoor concentrations and were related to indoor-generating sources, vacuum use, and occupants' lifestyles. The highest outdoor microplastic abundance was found near an industrial zone. The dominant microplastic type was polyethylene terephthalate, followed by polyester.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peta A. Neale, Beate I. Escher, Milo L. De Baat, Jerome Enault, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Effect-based methods (EBMs) using in vitro bioassays and well plate-based in vivo assays are recommended for water quality monitoring. Effect-based trigger values (EBTs) have been introduced to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable chemical water quality. These EBTs have been derived for both drinking water and surface water to protect human and ecological health.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jerome Enault, Jean-Francois Loret, Peta Neale, Milo De Baat, Beate Escher, Faten Belhadj, Stephan Kools, Geertje Pronk, Frederic Leusch
Summary: In the past decade, effect-based methods (EBMs) have gained increasing attention as a water quality monitoring tool. However, their practical use has been limited to research projects despite being recommended in guideline documents. This study reviews bioanalytical data on wastewater, drinking water, and reuse to identify knowledge gaps and priorities for action. The results highlight the need for more data on various biological effects and emphasize the importance of improving wastewater treatment to protect the environment.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Peta A. . Neale, Beate I. Escher, Milo L. de Baat, Magali Dechesne, Milou M. L. Dingemans, Jerome Enault, Geertje J. Pronk, Patrick W. M. H. Smeets, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Effect-based methods (EBM) have the potential for water quality monitoring by detecting the mixture effects of chemicals, which cannot be addressed by chemical analysis alone. However, EBM has been primarily used in research rather than adopted by the water sector and regulators due to concerns about reliability and interpretation. This work aims to answer frequently asked questions about EBM and provide confidence to regulators and the water sector to encourage its application.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md Hafiz All Hosen, Alex M. M. Sykes, Stephen A. A. Wood, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Deanne J. J. Whitworth, Susan M. Bengtson M. Nash
Summary: Cetaceans are at risk of accumulating environmental contaminants due to their longevity and high body fat. However, there is a lack of specific chemical effect data for these species. Recent advances in cetacean cell culture have allowed for the application of toxicological effect assessment approaches.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shima Ziajahromi, Hsuan-Cheng Lu, Darren Drapper, Andy Hornbuckle, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Limited research has been conducted on microplastics (MPs) and tire wear particles (TWPs) in stormwater. This study provides information on the abundance of MPs and TWPs in Australia and offers strategies to mitigate MP pollution. The results indicate that stormwater serves as a pathway for MPs, including TWPs, to enter aquatic habitats. Constructed wetlands and microlitter capture devices can effectively reduce the transport of MPs from stormwater to receiving waterways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dechao Chen, Muhammad Usman Zia, Fan Yang, Yuting Wang, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Wei Zhang, Yongsheng Gao, Dongyuan Zhao, Colin L. L. Raston, Qin Li
Summary: A ligand-mediated, spatially-confined synthesis method is developed to produce high-quality carbon dots from crude bioresources. The choice of solvent plays a critical role in the formation and properties of the carbon dots. The ligand-carbon interactions and electron transfer result in the formation of uniform colloidal carbon dots with multiple emissions. These carbon dots can be easily dispersed in various solvents and fabricated into thin-film devices, making them suitable for optoelectronic applications.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
