Quantifying ecological risks of aquatic micro- and nanoplastic

Besseling, Ellen; Redondo‐Hasselerharm, Paula E.; Foekema, E.M.; Koelmans, Albert A.

doi:10.1080/10643389.2018.1531688

Cited by 381 publications

(285 citation statements)

References 145 publications

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“…Hence, microplastics are largely a transitionary state between macrodebris and nanomaterials. Besseling et al () estimated that fragmentation of spherical microplastics could generate >10 14 times greater numbers of nanoparticles. To understand microplastic sources, fate, and consequences, one must consider the continuum, from plastic products/debris to microplastics and nanoplastics.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some authors (e.g., Besseling et al, ; Koelmans et al, ) have suggested that the importance of contaminant accumulation potential may be overestimated). They hypothesized that the outcome varies depending on the conditions within the gut of the organism studied, that is, the type of gut fluid (Tanaka et al, ).…”

Section: Microplastic Uptake and Consequences In Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

667

270

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Society has become increasingly reliant on plastics since commercial production began in about 1950. Their versatility, stability, light weight, and low production costs have fueled global demand. Most plastics are initially used and discarded on land. Nonetheless, the amount of microplastics in some oceanic compartments is predicted to double by 2030. To solve this global problem, we must understand plastic composition, physical forms, uses, transport, and fragmentation into microplastics (and nanoplastics). Plastic debris/microplastics arise from land disposal, wastewater treatment, tire wear, paint failure, textile washing, and at-sea losses. Riverine and atmospheric transport, storm water, and disasters facilitate releases. In surface waters plastics/microplastics weather, biofoul, aggregate, and sink, are ingested by organisms and redistributed by currents. Ocean sediments are likely the ultimate destination. Plastics release additives, concentrate environmental contaminants, and serve as substrates for biofilms, including exotic and pathogenic species. Microplastic abundance increases as fragment size decreases, as does the proportion of organisms capable of ingesting them. Particles <20 μm may penetrate cell membranes, exacerbating risks. Exposure can compromise feeding, metabolic processes, reproduction, and behavior. But more investigation is required to draw definitive conclusions. Human ingestion of contaminated seafood and water is a concern. Microplastics indoors present yet uncharacterized risks, magnified by the time we spend inside (>90%) and the abundance of polymeric products therein. Scientific challenges include improving microplastic sampling and characterization approaches, understanding long-term behavior, additive bioavailability, and organismal and ecosystem health risks. Solutions include improving globally based pollution prevention, developing degradable polymers and additives, and reducing consumption/expanding plastic reuse.

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Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastic Uptake and Consequences In Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

667

270

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“…The ability of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates to ingest MP depends on species characteristics such as their feeding habit or developmental stage (5,6), as well as on plastic particle properties and environmental conditions (7). Single-species laboratory studies have found that the ingestion of MP by freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates can cause adverse effects (8)(9)(10), which also seems to differ among species. For instance, a reduction in the growth of the amphipod Gammarus pulex was found after a 28-day exposure to polystyrene MP, while five other benthic macroinvertebrates were not affected under the same experimental conditions (6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nano- and microplastics affect the composition of freshwater benthic communities in the long term

et al. 2020

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Given the societal concern about the presence of nano- and microplastics in the environment, our nescience with respect to in situ effects is disturbing. Data on long-term implications under ecologically realistic conditions are particularly important for the risk assessment of nano- and microplastics. Here, we evaluate the long-term (up to 15 months) effects of five concentrations of nano- and microplastics on the natural recolonization of sediments by a macroinvertebrate community. Effects were assessed on the community composition, population sizes and species diversity. Nano- and microplastics adversely affected the abundance of macroinvertebrates after 15 months, which was caused by a reduction in the number of Naididae at the highest concentration (5% plastic per sediment dry weight). For some other taxa, smaller but still significant positive effects were found over time, altogether demonstrating that nano- and microplastics affected the community composition.

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“…Although it is possible to detect the presence of sub‐micron plastic particles in environmental samples using pyrolysis GC–MS (Ter Halle et al ., ), the confounding influence of other environmental components currently hinders the direct quantification of plastic nanoparticles in environmental samples. In contrast to nanoplastics, microplastics (100 nm‑5 mm) have been well quantified in various marine environments, with the highest concentrations recorded in beach sediments (Besseling et al ., ). As this plastic degrades into nanoparticles, it can be assumed that the highest concentrations of nanoparticles will be achieved in areas rich in plastic debris with little mixing to the wider environment.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Biofilm formation by marine bacteria is impacted by concentration and surface functionalization of polystyrene nanoparticles in a species‐specific manner

Okshevsky

Gautier

Farner

et al. 2020

Environ Microbiol Rep

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Summary The world's oceans are becoming increasingly polluted by plastic waste. In the marine environment, larger plastic pieces may degrade into nanoscale (<100 nm in at least one dimension) plastic particles due to natural weathering effects. We observe that the presence of 20 nm plastic nanoparticles at concentrations below 200 ppm had no impact on planktonic growth of a panel of heterotrophic marine bacteria. However, the presence of plastic nanoparticles significantly impacted the formation of biofilms in a species‐specific manner. While carboxylated nanoparticles increased the amount of biofilm formed by several species, amidine‐functionalized nanoparticles decreased the amount of biofilm of many but not all bacteria. Further experiments suggested that the aggregation dynamics of bacteria and nanoparticles were strongly impacted by the surface properties of the nanoparticles. The community structure of an artificially constructed community of marine bacteria was significantly altered by exposure to plastic nanoparticles, with differently functionalized nanoparticles selecting for unique and reproducible community abundance patterns. These results suggest that surface properties and concentration of plastic nanoparticles, as well as species interactions, are important factors determining how plastic nanoparticles impact biofilm formation by marine bacteria.

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Quantifying ecological risks of aquatic micro- and nanoplastic

Cited by 381 publications

References 145 publications

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Nano- and microplastics affect the composition of freshwater benthic communities in the long term

Biofilm formation by marine bacteria is impacted by concentration and surface functionalization of polystyrene nanoparticles in a species‐specific manner

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