Adsorption of cyanotoxins on polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate: Microplastics as vector of eight microcystin analogues

Moura, Diana S.; Pestana, Carlos J.; Moffat, Colin F.; Hui, Jianing; Irvine, John T. S.; Edwards, Christine; Lawton, Linda A.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119135

Cited by 31 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…However, given that microcystins are predominantly hydrophilic molecules, others have noted that hydrophobic interactions are unlikely to play a significant role in their sorption to hydrophobic phases in water and instead have suggested that mechanisms including cation‐bridging, hydrogen‐bonding, and surface electrostatic interactions are more likely (Wu et al, 2011). The discrepancies in affinity for plastic among congeners between our study and others (Moura et al, 2022; Pestana et al, 2021) further bolster the notion that the interaction between microplastics and microcystins is a multifactor process that is context dependent.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…In our case, the poor response of PP may be better explained by the microplastic's low specific surface area (Table 1), which can be an important factor in governing the sorption of hydrophilic contaminants to microplastics (Godoy et al, 2020; Liu et al, 2020). Enhanced sorption capacity of PET may also result from the polarity of the polymer, something seen by Moura et al (2022) between PET and the more hydrophilic congener MC‐WR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Other studies examining the microplastic–microcystin interaction observed the opposite trend, namely, as congener hydrophobicity increased, affinity for plastic also increased (Moura et al, 2022; Pestana et al, 2021). This suggests that hydrophobic interactions are a leading force driving the sorption capacity of plastics for microcystins.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This interaction has been documented for a wide range of environmental contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Frias et al, 2010; Rios et al, 2007; Rochman et al, 2013), polychlorinated biphenyls (Endo et al, 2005; Frias et al, 2010; Mato et al, 2001; Rios et al, 2007; Rochman et al, 2013), metals (Ashton et al, 2010; Richard et al, 2019; Rochman et al, 2014), and pharmaceuticals (Magadini et al, 2020). Recent research demonstrates that microplastics can sorb microcystins (Moura et al, 2022; Pestana et al, 2021; Qu et al, 2019), which are potent hepatotoxins produced by freshwater HABs that can have deleterious health effects on humans (Carmichael, 2001) and wildlife (Gene et al, 2019; Shahmohamadloo et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental Evidence from the Field that Naturally Weathered Microplastics Accumulate Cyanobacterial Toxins in Eutrophic Lakes

Hataley

Shahmohamadloo

Almirall

et al. 2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Freshwater ecosystems with recurring harmful algal blooms can also be polluted with plastics. Thus the two environmental problems may interact. To test whether microplastics influence the partitioning of microcystins in freshwater lakes, we examined the sorption of four microcystin congeners to different polymers of commercially available plastics (low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene). We conducted three experiments: a batch sorption experiment in the laboratory with pristine microplastics of four different polymers, a second batch sorption experiment in the laboratory to compare pristine and naturally weathered microplastics of a single polymer, and a 2-month sorption experiment in the field with three different polymers experiencing natural weathering in a eutrophic lake. This series of experiments led to a surprising result: microcystins sorbed poorly to all polymers tested under laboratory conditions (<0.01% of the initial amount added), irrespective of weathering, yet in the field experiment, all polymers accumulated microcystins under ambient conditions in a eutrophic lake (range: 0-84.1 ng/g). Furthermore, we found that the sorption capacity for microcystins differed among polymers in the laboratory experiment yet were largely the same in the field. We also found that the affinity for plastic varied among microcystin congeners, namely, more polar congeners demonstrated a greater affinity for plastic than less polar congeners. Our study improves our understanding of the role of polymer and congener type in microplastic-microcystin sorption and provides novel evidence from the field, showing that naturally weathered microplastics in freshwater lakes can accumulate microcystins. Consequently, we caution that microplastics may alter the persistence, transport, and bioavailability of microcystins in freshwaters, which could have implications for human and wildlife health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental Evidence from the Field that Naturally Weathered Microplastics Accumulate Cyanobacterial Toxins in Eutrophic Lakes

Hataley

Shahmohamadloo

Almirall

et al. 2022

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Previously, it was documented that MCs can be adsorbed by PS microplastics [16]. This was also confirmed in a recent study [17]. This evidence emphasizes the need to investigate the interaction between MPs and chemicals of natural origin.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 71%

The Inhibition of Microcystin Adsorption by Microplastics in the Presence of Algal Organic Matters

Tang

Zhou

et al. 2022

Toxics

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Microplastics (MPs) could act as vectors of synthetic chemicals; however, their influence on the adsorption of chemicals of natural origin (for example, MC-LR and intracellular organic matter (IOM), which could be concomitantly released by toxic Microcystis in water) is less understood. Here, we explored the adsorption of MC-LR by polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The results showed that the MPs could adsorb both MC-LR and IOM, with the adsorption capability uniformly following the order of PS, PE, and PMMA. However, in the presence of IOM, the adsorption of MC-LR by PE, PS, and PMMA was reduced by 22.3%, 22.7% and 5.4%, respectively. This is because the benzene structure and the specific surface area of PS facilitate the adsorption of MC-LR and IOM, while the formation of Π-Π bonds favor its interaction with IOM. Consequently, the competition for binding sites between MC-LR and IOM hindered MC-LR adsorption. The C=O in PMMA benefits its conjunction with hydroxyl and carboxyl in the IOM through hydrogen bonding; thus, the adsorption of MC-LR is also inhibited. These findings highlight that the adsorption of chemicals of natural origin by MPs is likely overestimated in the presence of metabolites from the same biota.

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Underway measurement of cyanobacterial microcystins using a surface plasmon resonance sensor on an autonomous underwater vehicle

Ussler,

Doucette,

Preston

et al. 2024

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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Freshwater cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) are a well‐known global public health threat. Monitoring and early detection of CHAB toxins are currently accomplished using labor‐intensive sampling techniques and subsequent shore‐based analyses, with results typically reported 24–48 h after sample collection. We have developed and implemented an uncrewed, autonomous mobile sampler‐analytical system capable of conducting targeted in situ toxin measurements in < 2 h. A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument was combined with the environmental sample processor (ESP) to fully automate detection and quantification of particle‐associated cyanobacterial microcystins (pMC). This sensor‐sampler system was integrated with a long‐range autonomous underwater vehicle (LRAUV) and deployed in western Lake Erie for field trials in the summer of 2021. The LRAUV was remotely piloted to acquire samples at selected locations within and adjacent to a CHAB. Sixteen pMC measurements ranging from 0.09 to 0.55 μg/L lake water were obtained over a 14‐day period without recovery of the LRAUV. The SPR/ESP/LRAUV system complements existing satellite, aerial, and manual sampling CHAB survey techniques, and could be used to enhance predictive models that underpin bloom and toxicity forecasts. This system is also extensible to detection of other algal toxins in freshwater and marine environments, with its near real‐time assessment of bloom toxin levels potentially offering additional socioeconomic benefits and public health protection in a variety of settings.

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Adsorption of cyanotoxins on polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate: Microplastics as vector of eight microcystin analogues

Cited by 31 publications

References 39 publications

Experimental Evidence from the Field that Naturally Weathered Microplastics Accumulate Cyanobacterial Toxins in Eutrophic Lakes

Experimental Evidence from the Field that Naturally Weathered Microplastics Accumulate Cyanobacterial Toxins in Eutrophic Lakes

The Inhibition of Microcystin Adsorption by Microplastics in the Presence of Algal Organic Matters

Underway measurement of cyanobacterial microcystins using a surface plasmon resonance sensor on an autonomous underwater vehicle

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