Review of research on migration, distribution, biological effects, and analytical methods of microfibers in the environment

Li, Yifei; Lu, Qing‐Bin; Xing, Yi; Li, Kai; Wei, Longxing; Yang, Jian; Yang, Qiong; Wu, Tai Tsun; Zhang, Jiafu; Pei, Zengxin; Gao, Ziyuan; Li, Xiaoyan; Yang, Fan; Ma, Hongjie; Liu, Kehan; Zhao, Ding

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158922

Cited by 35 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 216 publications

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“…Consistent with previous findings, most of our MPs were transparent fibers (Zhu et al, 2018;Mu et al, 2019;Jiang et al, 2020b). Fibers, especially synthetic fibers, are the main type of microplastic pollution in waters and sediments (Li et al, 2023). Replacement and discarding of fishing gear during the fishing process and human activities on the land (Deng et al, 2020a;Chen et al, 2020), such as laundry wastewater, would produce a large number of fibrous MPs (Kole et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2019).…”

Section: Analysis Of Mps In Surface Seawatersupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Polyester fibers, usually used to produce clothing and various textile products (Jiang et al, 2020a), were also common in our seawater samples. While low in abundance, rayon, a regenerated fiber, is routinely used in the clothing industry (Li et al, 2023). Therefore, we further speculate that textile manufacturing activities maybe the important sources of microplastic pollution along the Fujian coast in the East China Sea.…”

Section: Analysis Of Mps In Surface Seawatermentioning

confidence: 80%

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Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea

Wang

Wei

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Microplastics (MPs) pose serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators such as cetaceans. However, information on microplastic contamination in cetaceans from Asian waters is limited. Based on the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we reported MPs from finless porpoise intestinal samples and from their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea. MPs proved to be ubiquitous in both intestinal and habitat water samples. Most intestinal MPs were fibers (86.90%), transparent (51.19%), small sizes (<1.0 mm, 77.38%), and composed of polyamide (41.67%) or polyethylene terephthalate (45.24%). Seawater MPs were predominantly fibers (90.25%), transparent (82.45%), < 1.0 mm (83.76%) and composed of polypropylene (67.32%). Concentrations of MPs in coastal waters were greater than those in offshore waters. The concentration and composition of fibrous MPs indicate a likely textile industry origin. A recommendation is made to further assess the risks of MPs consumption in threatened species and develop scientific protection and management strategies.

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Section: Analysis Of Mps In Surface Seawatersupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Analysis Of Mps In Surface Seawatermentioning

confidence: 80%

Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea

Wang

Wei

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Cellulosic fibers are dominant over synthetic polymers in some marine environments due to the wide use of cellulose based mate-rials in different human activities, like fisheries, industrial laundries, civil engineering (geo-textiles), agriculture, garments, and furniture (Cole et al, 2011;Sanchez-Vidal et al, 2018;Rodríguez-Romeu et al, 2020). Studies showed as most of the MFs in the Mediterranean Sea, Western Indian Ocean, North Atlantic and South Atlantic Oceans are cellulose fibers (79.5%) (Li et al, 2022). Cellulosic MFs were also the most abundant ingested debris in different commercial fish species (Galeus melastomus, Boops boops, Trigla Lyra) (Alomar and Duodero, 2017;Savoca et al, 2019;Capillo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exposure to MFs in marine biota may cause physical damages such as blockage in the gut, segregation of digestive enzymes, low absorption of nutrients, disruption of the endocrine system, reproductive impairment, and disturbance in the body functions including respiration (Acharya et al, 2021). However, the biological effects could vary depending on the species and environmental conditions, and also due to the differences in size and shape of MFs that could influence the translocation among tissues (Li et al, 2022). Therefore, also the human exposure through seafood consumption, the transfer of MFs into the human body, and the impact on consumer health need to be deeply investigated (Bai et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies have also revealed the presence of a considerable number of natural MFs in the marine environment (Li et al, 2022), as well as most of the fibers isolated in different fish species from the Mediterranean Sea were of natural origin (74% cotton) (Avio et al, 2020). These particles have also become a matter of concern, due to the leaching of adsorbed pollutants and additives which enter the food web, leading to humans (Capone et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest

Santonicola¹,

Volgare²,

Pace³

et al. 2023

Ital J Food Safety

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The ingestion of synthetic microfibers, the most prevalent type of microplastics in marine environments, and natural fibers was assessed in Engraulis engrasicolus and Mullus barbatus, two commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Microfibers were isolated from the fish gastrointestinal tract using a 10% potassium hydroxide solution. For the microfiber characterization, the evaluation of specific morphological features using a light microscope, coupled with the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of a subsample of isolated particles, was applied. The preliminary results showed the occurrence of microfibers in 53 and 60% of European anchovy and Red mullet, respectively. A mean of 6.9 microfibers/individual was detected in anchovies, while on average Red mullet samples contained 9.2 microfibers/individual. The most common colors of fibers in both species were black, blue, and transparent. Visual characterization of fibers allowed the classification of 40% of the items as synthetic microfibers. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the visual classification by fiber morphology. Microfibers were made of different typologies of polymers, represented by cellulose, cotton, and polyester. These findings confirm as the wide distribution of fibrous microplastics, and natural microfibers may impact both pelagic and deep-sea trophic webs. Despite the presence of microfibers in fish species poses a potential risk to human health, the literature is scarce regarding studies on the uptake by commercial marine fish mostly due to methodological issues. The visual characterization, corroborated by spectroscopic techniques, may be useful to differentiate synthetic and natural fibers, representing a fast and easy method to assess fibrous microplastic pollution in commercially important fish species.

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Interactions between microplastics and Culex sp. larvae in wastewater

Khedre,

Ramadan,

Ashry

et al. 2024

Water Environment Research

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Microplastics (MPs) are a growing issue because they endanger both aquatic organisms and humans. Studies have indicated that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the major contributors to MPs in the environment. However, studies on the abundance of MP contamination in WWTPs and its transmission into aquatic organisms are still scarce, especially in Egypt. The goal of this study was to examine the temporal fluctuations in the distribution of MPs in surface water and the dominant macroinvertebrate fauna (Culex sp. larvae) in a fixed wastewater basin in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The average of MPs in the surface water was 3.01 ± 0.9 particles/L. The results indicated to seasonal variation of MP abundance in the wastewater basin that was significantly higher in winter than in the other seasons. The risk index for polymers (H), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used to assess the degree of MP contamination. The basin has moderate H values (<1000) because of the presence of polymers with moderate hazard scores such as polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). According to the PLI values, surface water is extremely contaminated with MPs (PLI: 88 to 120). The RI values of surface water showed higher ecological risk (level V). MPs in Culex sp. larvae were seasonally changed with an 85% detection rate, and an abundance average of 0.24 ± 0.65 particles/ind, MP concentration in Culex sp. larvae was influenced by the MP characters (shape, color, and polymer). The larvae of Culex sp. showed a greater preference for black and red fibrous polyester (PES) with sizes (<1000 μm) of MPs. These findings suggest that Culex sp. larvae prefer ingesting MPs that resemble their food. It is possible to overestimate Culex sp.'s preference for lower sizes because of their catabolism of MPs. To better understand the preferences of Culex sp. larvae for MPs, further controlled trials should be conducted.Practitioner Points Wastewater is highly contaminated with microplastics (MPs) in the different seasons. First report of detection of the seasonal abundance of MP in Culex sp. larvae. Culex sp. larvae showed a stronger feeding preference for MPs with specific characteristics. Smaller size and blue polyester fibers were the dominant characteristics of MPs in wastewater.

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Review of research on migration, distribution, biological effects, and analytical methods of microfibers in the environment

Cited by 35 publications

References 216 publications

Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea

Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea

Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest

Interactions between microplastics and Culex sp. larvae in wastewater

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