Preliminary Study on the Distribution, Source, and Ecological Risk of Typical Microplastics in Karst Groundwater in Guizhou Province, China

An, Xianjin; Li, Wei; Lan, Jiacheng; Adnan, Muhammad

doi:10.3390/ijerph192214751

Cited by 18 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…It is important to clarify the agglomeration behavior and co-migration mechanism between particulate matter and microplastics in clear water to predict microplastics' environmental behavior and risks accurately. The migration process of microplastics in seawater and surface water has been partially studied, but more attention needs to be paid to the migration of microplastics in groundwater and special ecological regions such as karst water [89]. 3.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review

An,

Wang,

Adnan

et al. 2024

Water

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Microplastics are widely present worldwide and are of great concern to scientists and governments due to their toxicity and ability to serve as carriers of other environmental pollutants. The abundance of microplastics in different water bodies varied significantly, mainly attributed to the initial emission concentration of pollutants and the migration ability of pollutants. The migration process of microplastics determines the abundance, fate, and bioavailability of microplastics in water. Previous studies have proved that the physicochemical properties of water bodies and the properties of microplastics themselves are important factors affecting their migration, but the change in external environmental conditions is also one of the main factors controlling the migration of microplastics. In this paper, we focus on the effects of meteorological factors (rainfall, light, and wind) on the distribution and migration of microplastics and conclude that the influence of meteorological factors on microplastics mainly affects the inflow abundance of microplastics, the physical and chemical properties of water, and the dynamics of water. At the same time, we briefly summarized the effects of aquatic organisms, water substrates, and water topography on microplastics. It is believed that aquatic organisms can affect the physical and chemical properties of microplastics through the physical adsorption and in vivo transmission of aquatic plants, through the feeding behavior, swimming, and metabolism of animals, and through the extracellular polymers formed by microorganisms, and can change their original environmental processes in water bodies. A full understanding of the influence and mechanism of external environmental factors on the migration of microplastics is of great theoretical significance for understanding the migration law of microplastics in water and comprehensively assessing the pollution load and safety risk of microplastics in water.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review

An,

Wang,

Adnan

et al. 2024

Water

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“…In Paris, MPs were detected in atmospheric precipitation, according to Prata (2018) . Due to their small size, these particles can be inhaled and cause damage to the respiratory system, depending on their properties ( Mintenig et al, 2019 ; An et al, 2022 ). Workers exposed to plastic fibers and particles were diagnosed with respiratory dyspnea and interstitial inflammatory problems ( Lu et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of media narratives on microplastics risk perception

Pop,

Ozunu,

Petrescu

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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Background Media are the interface between scientists and citizens, communicating and interpreting the risk message and powerfully influencing individual awareness, public debate, and, hence, people’s behavior. Pollution by microplastics (MPs), a threat to public health and terrestrial and marine ecosystems, has received research, media, and public interest. However, how MPs environmental and health risks are reflected in the media and assessed in the scientific literature does not find consensus over time. To date, few studies have examined social aspects around MPs, such as, for example, factors that influence awareness and perception of the risk of MPs. In this context, the objective of this study is twofold. First, we determined if media narratives influenced Romanians’ awareness of MPs, and second, we investigated if media narratives influenced Romanians’ perceptions of MPs health and environmental risk. Method An online survey was conducted among 417 Romanian respondents. The questionnaire had 21 questions. The questions were related to the awareness of MPs, the perceived health risk of MPs, the perceived environmental risk of MPs, the intensity of exposure to media narratives about the MPs impact on health and the environment, and the demographics. Binary logistic regression was run to identify what media narratives influenced MPs awareness and risk perception. In recent times, mass media has shaped perceptions of health and environmental risks, driven by events like COVID-19 and global climate change. Our study relies on media narratives as its foundation. Results Binary logistic regression showed that the awareness of MPs is influenced by the media narrative “Microplastics in the sea threaten fish stocks” (p = 0.001). When the frequency of exposure to this media narrative increases, the probability of reporting awareness of MPs increases. Likewise, an increase in age represents a higher probability of reporting awareness of MPs. The perceived health risk of MPs, with the highest weighting, was related to the dependent variable “Leakage of harmful chemicals from MPs affects the soil” (p = 0.014). Conclusions Media narratives about plastic and MPs pollution have increased over time, influencing the perception of this risk. The study argues the need for accurate and balanced media reporting on MPs to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that people clearly understand MPs risks. Furthermore, a closer examination of people’s perceptions supports the design of appropriate interventions to reduce plastic consumption, thereby decreasing the risks of MPs pollution with benefits for human health and the environment.

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“…Despite the oxidative treatment, some undigested inorganic matter remained at the bottom. To enhance the extraction of MPs, a saturated NaCl solution with a 1:2 volume-to-volume ratio was added to increase water density [55]. After shaking for 1 min, the solutions were sealed with aluminum foil and allowed to settle for 24 h at room temperature.…”

Section: Microplastic Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

(Micro-)Plastics in Saturated and Unsaturated Groundwater Bodies: First Evidence of Presence in Groundwater Fauna and Habitats

Sforzi,

Tabilio Di Camillo,

Di Lorenzo

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing concern in every known ecosystem. However, MP presence in groundwaters and the ecological impact they can have on groundwater fauna is still poorly investigated. Here, we assess the presence of MPs in three Italian groundwater bodies, comprising two karst caves and two monitoring bores of a saturated alluvial aquifer. In addition to water samples, groundwater invertebrates were collected to assess their potential ingestion of MPs. For water samples, chemical characterization of polymers was done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 2D imaging, while fauna samples were analyzed with a tandem microscopy approach (fluorescence microscopy and FTIR). The abundance of MPs in water samples varied from 18 to 911 items/L. The majority of MPs were fibers (91%), with a mean size in the range of 100 µm and 1 mm. Black, red, and blue were the most abundant colors (30%, 25%, and 19%, respectively). The most abundant polymer was artificial/textile cellulose (65%), followed by PET (21%). MPs were found in every groundwater taxon. Pellets were the most abundant in each specimen (87% on average), while the largest were fragments, with a mean dimension of 26 µm. Cellulose was found to be the most abundant polymer (51%). This study is the first to highlight the presence of MPs ingested by groundwater fauna. Further investigations are urgently required to assess the potential ecological impact MPs can have on the resident fauna in these sensitive ecosystems.

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Preliminary Study on the Distribution, Source, and Ecological Risk of Typical Microplastics in Karst Groundwater in Guizhou Province, China

Cited by 18 publications

References 67 publications

Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review

Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review

The influence of media narratives on microplastics risk perception

(Micro-)Plastics in Saturated and Unsaturated Groundwater Bodies: First Evidence of Presence in Groundwater Fauna and Habitats

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