Biofouling, metal sorption and aggregation are related to sinking of microplastics in a stratified reservoir

Leiser, Rico; Wu, Gi‐Mick; Neu, Thomas R.; Wendt‐Potthoff, Katrin

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2020.115748

Cited by 114 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This implies the existence of processes governing the sedimentation of buoyant microplastics in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Such processes are aggregation 8 , biofouling 9 and mineral formation 10 affecting both high and low density microplastics. The microplastic particles may aggregate with microalgae cells 11 , cyanobacteria 12 , diatoms 13 or transparent exopolymeric particles 8 (TEP) leading to the sinking of initially buoyant polymers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was previously reported that lake mixing leads to aggregation of buoyant planktonic Microcystis colonies with iron flocs, transporting them to the sediment 21 . These mixing events might even aggregate and sink buoyant, negatively charged PE microplastics through aggregating with positively charged iron containing colloids 10 , 24 . Iron flocs formed in lakes are susceptible to microbial iron reduction 28 especially once they reach the sediment 29 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs

Leiser

Schumann

Dadi

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microplastics are ubiquitous in standing freshwater bodies, consequently lakes and reservoirs may be important sinks for these contaminants. However, the mechanisms governing the deposition of microplastics and their interactions with the sediments are understudied. We demonstrate how aggregation-based transport facilitates the sinking and infiltration of buoyant microplastics into freshwater reservoir sediments by employing experiments with intact sediment cores. Buoyant polyethylene microplastics were rapidly (1–4 h) incorporated into sinking iron-organic aggregates, followed by swift deposition into sediments. Ingression of microplastic bearing flocs into sediments was completed within 6 days and led to stable deposition of the incorporated particles for at least 2 months. Most microplastics were deposited in the top 2 cm of the sediments and few particles (5–15%) were re-released into the water. Our results show at least 85% burial of microplastics, indicating the significant role of freshwaters with low flow velocities in reducing microplastic loads to the oceans.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs

Leiser

Schumann

Dadi

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These results suggest an environmental impact on heterotrophic activities and possibly on the carbon cycle in lakes (Arias-Andres et al, 2018). In addition, the depth of the buoyant plastics and the type of polymer also affect the plastisphere, in particular bacteria, cyanobacteria, and algae (Leiser et al, 2020).…”

Section: Prokaryota and Eukaryota (Protista Chromista)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater wild biota exposure to microplastics: A global perspective

Cera

Scalici

2021

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plastics are organic synthetic polymers that have registered steady growth since the beginning of their production in the 20th century. Indeed, global production exceeded 380×10 9 kg in 2019 (PlasticsEurope, 2020). Mismanaged plastic waste has become a growing global issue as it causes extensive soil and water contamination (Lacerda et al., 2019;Windsor et al., 2019). Plastics are a persistent pollutant, as they have a low rate of degradation: Their degradation rate is lower than their contamination rate, leading to an accumulation of mismanaged plastic waste in the environment. When plastics are exposed to environmental conditions, physical, chemical, and biological agents can break them into smaller particles by photo-oxidation, thermal, and mechanical degradation (Singh & Sharma, 2008).

show abstract

“…Cyanobacteria in both marine and freshwaters are among the wide range of microbes which, with mineral particles, attach to microplastics, forming a biofilm. The adhesion of microbes, with subsequent development of an extracellular polysaccharide layer, may contribute to the sinking or buoyancy properties of these complexes, and to the further sorption of metals, particularly, iron and manganese [ 117 ]. Among toxicological hazards presented by the microplastics accumulating in water resources are the endocrine-disrupting bisphenol contaminants, including bisphenols A, S, F, and AF [ 118 ].…”

Section: Additional Health Hazards: Their Co-occurrence and Interamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics increase microcystin production by the cyanobacterial cells and also increase the extracellular release of the toxin(s) according to microcystin immunoassay. The prevalence and proximity of microplastics, nanoplastics, and cyanobacteria [ 115 , 116 , 117 ], and widespread ability of the latter to produce microcystins [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 ] require further research into the toxicological interactions of these ubiquitous synthetic and naturally occurring, biological health hazards.…”

Section: Additional Health Hazards: Their Co-occurrence and Interamentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins with Other Environmental Health Hazards: Impacts and Implications

Metcalf¹,

Codd

2020

Toxins

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxin-producing cyanobacteria in aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial environments can occur alongside a wide range of additional health hazards including biological agents and synthetic materials. Cases of intoxications involving cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, with exposure to additional hazards, are discussed. Examples of the co-occurrence of cyanobacteria in such combinations are reviewed, including cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins plus algal toxins, microbial pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria, metals, pesticides, and microplastics. Toxicity assessments of cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and these additional agents, where investigated in bioassays and in defined combinations, are discussed and further research needs are identified.

show abstract

Biofouling, metal sorption and aggregation are related to sinking of microplastics in a stratified reservoir

Cited by 114 publications

References 35 publications

Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs

Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs

Freshwater wild biota exposure to microplastics: A global perspective

Co-Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins with Other Environmental Health Hazards: Impacts and Implications

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About