Microplastics in large marine animals stranded in the Republic of Korea

Terrestrial wildlife as indicators of microplastic pollution in western Thailand

“…Our study has highlighted MP accumulation in terrestrial vertebrates and tadpoles in Thailand, both within and outside protected areas. This contributes significant insights into MP contamination, an area previously less explored in terrestrial and freshwater contexts compared to marine environments, as evidenced by studies on marine vertebrates ( Park et al, 2023 ) and freshwater fish ( Kasamesiri & Thaimuangphol, 2020 ; Seetapan & Prommi, 2023 ).…”

Microplastic Contamination of a Benthic Ecosystem in a Hydrothermal Vent

“…In the laboratory, soft tissues were extracted in a fume hood. Then, the postextraction treatment closely followed the previously outlined procedures . Chemical treatments were employed to remove interfering substances from the soft tissues, including exposure to a 10% KOH solution (300 mL) at 60 °C for 72 h. Then, the mixture was filtered through a 20 μm stainless-steel mesh (47 Øm) to eliminate any remaining particles.…”

“…Then, the postextraction treatment closely followed the previously outlined procedures. 4 Chemical treatments were employed to remove interfering substances from the soft tissues, including exposure to a 10% KOH solution (300 mL) at 60 °C for 72 h. Then, the mixture was filtered through a 20 μm stainless-steel mesh (47 Øm) to eliminate any remaining particles. Residual organic materials were removed by exposing the tissues to a 35% H 2 O 2 solution (300 mL) at 60 °C for 72 h. To exclude particles with high densities, such as sediment, a ZnCl 2 /CaCl 2 solution (2:1.4 v/v; density = 1.6 g/mL) was used to transfer the particles into glass funnels and precipitate for 72 h. Finally, the samples were filtered through a 20 μm stainless-steel mesh (12 mm Ø) and analyzed using FT-IR (LUMOS2; Bruker).…”

“…Due to their diminutive size, MPs can be ingested by organisms across a wide range of trophic levels, spanning from small invertebrates to apex predators, such as whales. 3,4 The ingestion of MPs is recognized as the primary mechanism through which the uptake of these particles by organisms occurs while also potentially facilitating their transfer up the food chain. 5 Previous studies have reported that MPs, once biologically accumulated and transferred, can undergo magnification as they move up the food chain.…”

“…Recently, plastic waste pollution has emerged as a profoundly concerning threat to marine ecosystems, with plastics finding their way into the ocean and breaking down into microplastics (MPs)defined as plastic particles with a maximum size of 5 mm and a minimum size of 1 μm. Due to their diminutive size, MPs can be ingested by organisms across a wide range of trophic levels, spanning from small invertebrates to apex predators, such as whales. , The ingestion of MPs is recognized as the primary mechanism through which the uptake of these particles by organisms occurs while also potentially facilitating their transfer up the food chain . Previous studies have reported that MPs, once biologically accumulated and transferred, can undergo magnification as they move up the food chain. , This can lead to diverse physicochemical effects within the digestive systems of animals, potentially exerting adverse impacts on growth, reproduction, and various physiological processes. , …”