The extraction of microplastics from sediments: An overview of existing methods and the proposal of a new and green alternative

Bellasi, Arianna; Binda, Gilberto; Pozzi, Andrea; Boldrocchi, Ginevra; Bettinetti, Roberta

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130357

Cited by 71 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…However, repeating the density separation step at least three times on the same sample has been shown to improve the MP recovery efficiency, even for denser ones, such as PVC (Horton et al, 2017). Recently, Bellasi et al (2021) suggested Ba Da, Nhue River) to 55,950 ± 10,111 particles•kg −1 at the TL site (e.g. To-Lich River).…”

Section: Choosing a Solution Adapted To The Local Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of a density separation solution to study microplastics in tropical riverine sediment

Duong

Nguyen

et al. 2022

Environ Monit Assess

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critical issue. It is necessary to identify the fate and sources of MPs in the environment, minimise their release and adverse effects. Compared to marine sediments, standardised methods for extracting and estimating the amount of MPs in freshwater sediments are relatively limited. The present study focuses on MP recovery efficiency of four commonly used salt solutions (NaCl, NaI, CaCl 2 and ZnCl 2 ) for isolating MPs during the density separation step from freshwater sediment.

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Section: Choosing a Solution Adapted To The Local Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of a density separation solution to study microplastics in tropical riverine sediment

Duong

Nguyen

et al. 2022

Environ Monit Assess

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“…The complexity of the processes of cause/effect characterizing microplastic implies the use of different protocols each of them optimized for a specific target of study. Additionally, even if studying microplastic is nowadays of a central importance and several standardized protocols of extraction and analysis have been published 97 – 102 , the continuous search for the most effective or performing one is still ongoing 103 – 105 . Furthermore, even though considerable research effort focused on several target species, (mainly vertebrates from fish to mammals) 17 , 19 , 21 , few invertebrates were investigated so far, and, among them, filter-feeder molluscs (bivalves) were mainly studied 15 , 31 , 39 , 57 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SEM/EDX analysis of stomach contents of a sea slug snacking on a polluted seafloor reveal microplastics as a component of its diet

Furfaro

D’Elia

Mariano

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Understanding the impacts of microplastics on living organisms in aquatic habitats is one of the hottest research topics worldwide. Despite increased attention, investigating microplastics in underwater environments remains a problematic task, due to the ubiquitous occurrence of microplastic, its multiple modes of interactions with the biota, and to the diversity of the synthetic organic polymers composing microplastics in the field. Several studies on microplastics focused on marine invertebrates, but to date, the benthic sea slugs (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) were not yet investigated. Sea slugs are known to live on the organisms on which they feed on or to snack while gliding over the sea floor, but also as users of exogenous molecules or materials not only for nutrition. Therefore, they may represent a potential biological model to explore new modes of transformation and/or management of plastic, so far considered to be a non-biodegradable polymer. In this study we analysed the stomachal content of Bursatella leachii, an aplysiid heterobranch living in the Mar Piccolo, a highly polluted coastal basin near Taranto, in the northern part of the Ionian Sea. Microplastics were found in the stomachs of all the six sampled specimens, and SEM/EDX analyses were carried out to characterize the plastic debris. The SEM images and EDX spectra gathered here should be regarded as a baseline reference database for future investigations on marine Heterobranchia and their interactions with microplastics.

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“…As for all plastic waste dispersed into the environment, rivers and lakes (abundant water bodies in the study area) and the sea are expected to be the main sinks of dispersed PPEs [57]. In fact, 80% of plastic litter is reported to be delivered to the ocean by land-based sources [58] and plastic pellets represent between 50% and 80% of the total waste occurring on beaches and in water and on seabeds [59].…”

Section: Impacts On the Environment: The Potential Effects Of Ppes An...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Personal Protective Equipment Use by the General Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Lombardy (Northern Italy)

et al. 2021

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The diffusion of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) impacted the whole world, changing the life habits of billions of people. These changes caused an abundant increase in personal protective equipment (PPE, e.g., masks and gloves) use by the general population, which can become a concerning issue of plastic pollution. This study aims to evaluate the negative effects of the abundant PPE use following the COVID-19 diffusion using the test site of the Lombardy region, an area highly affected by the pandemic. Population data were retrieved from national databases, and the COVID-19 national guidelines were considered to estimate the total use of PPEs during 2020. Then, the quantity of waste derived from their use was evaluated based on the weight of PPEs. As well, possible scenarios for 2021 were proposed based on 2020 estimations. The results suggested different negative effects of the diffusion of PPEs both on waste management and on the environment: The abundant increase in PPEs-derived waste caused an increase in terms of costs for management, and the potential direct spreading in the environment of these materials (especially masks) poses a serious threat for an increase in microplastics in water bodies. Following this evaluation, a careful choice regarding COVID-19 measures of containment should be performed especially by the general population, avoiding contagion diffusion and reducing the possible environmental impact derived from disposable PPE use.

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The extraction of microplastics from sediments: An overview of existing methods and the proposal of a new and green alternative

Cited by 71 publications

References 119 publications

Selection of a density separation solution to study microplastics in tropical riverine sediment

Selection of a density separation solution to study microplastics in tropical riverine sediment

SEM/EDX analysis of stomach contents of a sea slug snacking on a polluted seafloor reveal microplastics as a component of its diet

Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Personal Protective Equipment Use by the General Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Lombardy (Northern Italy)

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