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Environments
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Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments
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Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 8170

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juliana Aristéia De Lima

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department: Polymer, Fibre and Composite, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Brinellgatan 4, 504 62 Borås, Sweden
Interests: microplastics; plastic degradation and fragmentation; eletronic microscopy; polymer blends; green materials
Dr. Karin Mattsson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg 566, 451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
Interests: micro- and nanoplastics; correlative microscopy; spectros-copy; plastic degradation and fragmentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aquatic environment is known to be heavily polluted with plastics, including microplastics that are released into the environment directly from everyday-use plastic items, wastewater treatment plants, polymer degradation and industries. One of the current concerns is that when these contaminants enter the water, aquatic life may feed on them, and the microplastics may enter the food chain and cause serious health risks. However, little is known about their distribution and fate in the environment, and more research is needed to answer questions such as the following: What happens to the plastics when in the aquatic environment in relation to degradation, biodegradation and fragmentation? How does the environment affect the plastics?

Another important aspect is the plastic products from biodegradable sources that are presented as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and a solution to marine plastic pollution. However, concern regarding bioplastics is that the use of additives could leach more effectively to the environment through microplastics.

This Special Issue welcomes manuscripts on all aspects related to studies on plastic pollution in the aquatic environment, including the fate and distribution of plastics, plastic degradation, fragmentation, biodegradation, and the production of materials that involve greater sustainability and less harm to the environment. Both research and review papers are welcome.

Dr. Juliana Aristéia De Lima
Dr. Karin Mattsson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • degradation
  • fragmentation
  • biodegradation
  • polymer characteristics
  • micro- and nanoplastics
  • aquatic environment
  • characterisation methods
  • microscopy
  • spectroscopy
  • green materials
  • bioplastics
  • microplastics

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

12 pages, 2555 KiB  
Article
Plastics at an Offshore Fish Farm on the South Coast of Madeira Island (Portugal): A Preliminary Evaluation of Their Origin, Type, and Impact on Farmed Fish
by Mariana Martins, Ana Pombo, Susana Mendes and Carlos A. P. Andrade
Environments 2024, 11(9), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11090202 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 802
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global problem affecting all ecosystems, and it represents most of the marine litter. Offshore aquaculture is a sector particularly vulnerable to this issue. To investigate this concern, the present study employed videography to monitor macroplastics at an offshore fish [...] Read more.
Plastic pollution is a global problem affecting all ecosystems, and it represents most of the marine litter. Offshore aquaculture is a sector particularly vulnerable to this issue. To investigate this concern, the present study employed videography to monitor macroplastics at an offshore fish farm on Madeira Island (Portugal) and analysis of fish gut content to evaluate macroplastic ingestion by farmed sea bream Sparus aurata. Our analysis revealed that the majority of identified plastic debris originated from domestic use (66.66%) and fisheries/aquaculture activities (24.99%). While the number of dead fish suitable for sampling was limited (1.05% of the total mortality), macroplastic debris ingestion was identified in 5.15% of the total mortalities and reported for the first time in species in offshore farming conditions. Fish ingested fragmented plastic sheets, with the amount positively correlated with fish weight (r = 0.621, p = 0.031, n = 12). Notably, the stretched length of these fragments exceeded 50% of the standard length of most fish. Inconsistencies were observed in the number of samples collected per cage and per week. To ensure robust results, these discrepancies should be rectified in future studies. Additionally, extending the sampling period to encompass all seasons would be beneficial for a more comprehensive understanding of seasonal variations in plastic occurrence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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24 pages, 12223 KiB  
Article
Quantification and Categorization of Macroplastics (Plastic Debris) within a Headwaters Basin in Western North Carolina, USA: Implications to the Potential Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Biota
by Nathaniel Barrett, Jerry Miller and Suzanne Orbock-Miller
Environments 2024, 11(9), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11090195 - 10 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 946
Abstract
Plastic production on a commercial scale began in the 1950s, reaching an annual production of 460 million metric tons in 2019. The global release of 22% of produced plastics into the environment has raised concerns about their potential environmental impacts, particularly on aquatic [...] Read more.
Plastic production on a commercial scale began in the 1950s, reaching an annual production of 460 million metric tons in 2019. The global release of 22% of produced plastics into the environment has raised concerns about their potential environmental impacts, particularly on aquatic ecosystems. Here, we quantify and categorize plastic debris found along Richland Creek, a small, heavily forested watershed in western North Carolina, USA. Plastics within the riparian zone of seven 50 m reaches of Richland Creek and its tributaries were sampled two or three times. The 1737 pieces of collected plastic debris were returned to the lab where they were measured and categorized. A small-scale laboratory study using seven of the items collected was performed to determine their ability to break down into microplastics (particles < 5 mm in size). The majority (76%) of collected items were made of either plastic film (particularly bags and food wrappers, 43%) or hard plastics (e.g., bottles, 2%). However, when viewed on a surface area basis, films and synthetic fabrics (e.g., clothing, sleeping bags) equally dominated. Roughly three-quarters of the items collected had a width less than 10 cm, due primarily to the fragmentation of the original items; over two-thirds of the collected items were fragmented. Items composed of foams and films exhibited the highest fragmentation rates, 93% and 86%, respectively. Most collected plastics were domestic in nature, and the number of items increased downstream through more developed areas. Laboratory studies showed that plastic debris has a propensity to break down into microplastics. We believe the data collected here should be replicated in other streams, as these freshwater environments are the source of plastics that eventually enter the oceans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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17 pages, 13027 KiB  
Article
Detection of Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Insect Meals
by Simona Rimoldi, Jessica Ponti, Andrea Valsesia, Giulio Saroglia, Rita La Spina, Francesco Fumagalli and Genciana Terova
Environments 2024, 11(6), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060112 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Background: Escalating global plastic production, expected to reach 34,000 million tons by 2050, poses a significant threat to human and environmental well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP), which originate from the degradation of plastics, are of concern due to [...] Read more.
Background: Escalating global plastic production, expected to reach 34,000 million tons by 2050, poses a significant threat to human and environmental well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP), which originate from the degradation of plastics, are of concern due to their potential bioaccumulation and uptake of pollutants. This study addresses identification methods and focuses on insect meal, a raw material for aquaculture feed. Methods: By using different techniques, the study was able to detect MP and NP in insect meal samples. Chemical digestion with KOH at 60 °C efficiently removed organic matter without affecting the synthetic polymer polyethylene (PE). Filtration, confocal Raman microscopy, SEM, and TEM were used for comprehensive analysis, and integrity tests on PE films were performed using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed the presence of PE microplastic particles in the insect meal, which was confirmed by correlative Raman and SEM mapping on a positively charged surface. In addition, the increased resolution of the Raman microscope identified submicrometric PE NP (800 nm). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed plastic-like structures in the insect meal, highlighting the presence of PE plastics characterized by irregular shapes and some agglomeration. The higher carbon concentration in the EDX analysis supported the plastic nature, which was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Conclusions: The study provides a robust method for the detection of MP and NP in insect meal and provides valuable insight into the possible presence of plastics in insect-based aquafeeds. The combination of different analytical methods increases the reliability of the results and sets the stage for future investigations that could focus on the quantification of NP and the assessment of their potential environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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16 pages, 2953 KiB  
Article
A Microplastic Pollution Hotspot: Elevated Levels in Sediments from the San Francisco Bay Area
by Lara Dronjak, Joaquim Rovira, Diana Lin, June-Soo Park, Sutapa Ghosal, Nora Expósito, Marta Schuhmacher and Jordi Sierra
Environments 2024, 11(5), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11050103 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1319
Abstract
San Francisco Bay’s sediment is currently monitored for a variety of contaminants; however, data regarding the microplastics (MPs) in the area are still scarce. MPs’ occurrence in sediment samples has gained recognition as a reservoir for MP accumulation. Moreover, Bay sediment is also [...] Read more.
San Francisco Bay’s sediment is currently monitored for a variety of contaminants; however, data regarding the microplastics (MPs) in the area are still scarce. MPs’ occurrence in sediment samples has gained recognition as a reservoir for MP accumulation. Moreover, Bay sediment is also an important matrix for monitoring because sediment tends to accumulate certain contaminants and act as a source of contaminants in the Bay food web. This study analyzed MPs ranging from 25 µm to 5 mm in surface sediment grab samples (n = 8) and two sediment core samples (n = 2 cores analyzed with 11 samples from different depths). Our findings provide an evaluation of MP levels in different regions of the bay. The MP levels detected in Bay surface grab samples ranged from 2.1 to 11.9 MPs/g dry weight (n = 8), with a mean value of 6.2 MPs/g. The most abundant morphology was fibers, followed by fragments and films. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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Review

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14 pages, 1754 KiB  
Review
Micro- and Nano-Plastics Induced Release of Protein-Enriched Microbial Exopolymeric Substances (EPSs) in Marine Environments
by Wei-Chun Chin, Peter H. Santschi, Antonietta Quigg, Chen Xu, Peng Lin and Manoj Kamalanathan
Environments 2024, 11(8), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080165 - 5 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1568
Abstract
Plastics are produced, consumed, and disposed of worldwide, with more than eight million tons of plastic litter entering the ocean each year. Plastic litter accumulates in marine and terrestrial environments through a variety of pathways. Large plastic debris can be broken down into [...] Read more.
Plastics are produced, consumed, and disposed of worldwide, with more than eight million tons of plastic litter entering the ocean each year. Plastic litter accumulates in marine and terrestrial environments through a variety of pathways. Large plastic debris can be broken down into micro- and nano-plastic particles through physical/mechanical mechanisms and biologically or chemically mediated degradation. Their toxicity to aquatic organisms includes the scavenging of pollutant compounds and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Higher levels of ROS cause oxidative damages to microalgae and bacteria; this triggers the release of large amounts of exopolymeric substances (EPSs) with distinct molecular characteristics. This review will address what is known about the molecular mechanisms phytoplankton and bacteria use to regulate the fate and transport of plastic particles and identify the knowledge gaps, which should be considered in future research. In particular, the microbial communities react to plastic pollution through the production of EPSs that can reduce the plastic impacts via marine plastic snow (MPS) formation, allowing plastics to settle into sediments and facilitating their removal from the water column to lessen the plastic burden to ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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Other

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19 pages, 3320 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Microplastic Contamination in Commercially Important Bony Fish and Its Implications for Health
by Júlia Scarpa de Souza, Júlia Vianna de Pinho, Paloma de Almeida Rodrigues, Anita Corrêa de Melo, Ludmila Rosa Bergsten-Torralba and Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
Environments 2024, 11(8), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080174 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1078
Abstract
The increasing production of plastic products has raised concerns about environmental impacts related to microplastic formation, which harms ecosystems and human health. This systematic review aims to present the concentration of microplastics in commercially important bony fish and discuss the impacts on animal [...] Read more.
The increasing production of plastic products has raised concerns about environmental impacts related to microplastic formation, which harms ecosystems and human health. This systematic review aims to present the concentration of microplastics in commercially important bony fish and discuss the impacts on animal health and the possibility of these contaminants reaching the end consumer. The PICO methodology was used, and 517 articles were retrieved from four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus); after selecting articles that complement the research objective, 70 articles were used to compose this review. According to the results, line-shaped microplastics, polypropylene, and polystyrene polymers were the most frequently identified in the articles. Additionally, the effects of microplastics on animal health, including false satiety and physical injuries, as well as risks to human health, such as epithelial inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell contamination, were discussed. Understanding the concentration of microplastics in commercially important bony fish is necessary for protecting human health and maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. It is necessary to adopt legislative measures for proper plastic disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments)
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