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Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean
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Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Pollution".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 June 2023) | Viewed by 25751

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Michele Arienzo

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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: marine pollution; soil analysis; water and wastewater treatment; water quality; environmental analysis; water analysis; environmental pollution; environmental monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Luciano Ferrara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Vicinale Cupa Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: ecotoxicology; bioaccumulation; water contamination; biomagnification; wastewater and sewage sludge; mitigation/remediation; modelling; atmospheric pollution; pesticide residues
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plastics began to enter the ocean in increasing quantities in the 1950s from a wide variety of land- and sea-based sources. Reports of floating plastic microdebris in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, Bering Sea and Japan Sea were first published in the scientific literature in 1970s–1980s. Unfortunately, however, the topic was largely ignored by the scientific community for many years. The purpose of the Special issue is to publish the most exciting research with respect to the above subject and to give a rapid tool for the free publication and dissemination of the articles for research, teaching, and reference purposes. In particular, the following topics are suggested: innovative methods for the characterization and quantification of microplastics in water bodies; impact on the biosphere; methods for their elimination or for reducing their harmfulness; search for natural biodegradable materials that can replace the use of plastics.

Prof. Dr. Michele Arienzo
Prof. Dr. Luciano Ferrara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 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 2600 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

  • Microplastic in oceans
  • Key sources identification
  • Fate and effects
  • Analytical techniques
  • Behavior and modeling
  • Environmental impact and human health Case studies
  • Accumulation preventing and minimization

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 621 KiB  
Article
The Dynamics of Buoyant Microplastic in the Ocean Forced by Unsteady Insolation
by Hannah Kreczak, Rosie Higgins and Andrew J. Willmott
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(7), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071402 - 11 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1107
Abstract
Building on the deterministic mathematical models of Kooi et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 2017) and Kreczak et al. (Limnol. Oceanogr. 66, 2021), this study investigates the trajectories of biofouled microplastic particles forced by unsteady insolation. A new, non-dimensional system of governing equations [...] Read more.
Building on the deterministic mathematical models of Kooi et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 2017) and Kreczak et al. (Limnol. Oceanogr. 66, 2021), this study investigates the trajectories of biofouled microplastic particles forced by unsteady insolation. A new, non-dimensional system of governing equations is derived to predict the particle trajectory in a stratified, quiescent ocean subject to unsteady insolation. In the absence of stratification, unsteady insolation drives surface-to-depth oscillations with amplitude varying seasonally, attaining a maximum/minimum in the summer/winter, respectively. At high latitudes, a particle spends an increasing length of time floating on the sea surface in the winter when biofilm production is minimal or absent altogether. We demonstrate that, at 70N, the oscillations are modulated; in summer they are briefly subsurface, while in spring/fall they reach the sea surface and exhibit the largest amplitude throughout the year. In contrast, forcing the particle motion with constant, annually averaged insolation, at any given latitude, always generates persistent surface-to-depth periodic oscillations. In a stratified ocean, the previously reported persistence of subsurface particle oscillations forced by constant insolation is no longer exhibited for unsteady solar forcing. At lower latitudes, surface-to-depth oscillations with seasonally varying amplitude occur in a stratified ocean. In polar latitudes, the particle dynamics displays three regimes: (i) floating at the sea surface in winter, (ii) surface-to-depth oscillations in spring/fall with time-varying amplitude, (iii) subsurface oscillations around the compensation depth, where biofilm production and mortality rates balance. Decreasing the particle size leads to longer oscillation periods, and at high latitudes the particle either floats or performs subsurface oscillations with seasonally varying amplitude about the compensation depth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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13 pages, 4146 KiB  
Article
Depth Profiles of Microplastic in Sediment Cores in the Mangrove Area of Kuala Gula Mangrove, Malaysia
by Che Abd Rahim Mohamed, Aqilah Nur Shahruddin, Siriporn Pradit, Pei Sun Loh, Thongchai Nitiratsuwan, Thawanrat Kobkeatthawin, Prakrit Noppradit, Thi Phuong Quynh Le, Chantha Oeurng, Ty Sok, Choon Weng Lee, Chui Wei Bong, Xixi Lu, Gusti Z. Anshari, Selvaraj Kandasamy and Jianjun Wang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(6), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11061223 - 14 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3008
Abstract
Microplastics are widespread in coastal and marine environments, and sediments serve as a sink for microplastics. In this study, four sediment cores were collected from the Kuala Gula Mangrove area. The abundance of microplastics in mangrove sediments ranged from 25–130 items/kg dry weight. [...] Read more.
Microplastics are widespread in coastal and marine environments, and sediments serve as a sink for microplastics. In this study, four sediment cores were collected from the Kuala Gula Mangrove area. The abundance of microplastics in mangrove sediments ranged from 25–130 items/kg dry weight. The highest abundance of microplastic was observed at the KG04 site near the mouth of the river. The number of microplastics by sampling site was significantly different (p < 0.01), with station KG04 having the highest fiber content. The dominant color of microplastics was blue, and the main shape was fiber. Rayon, cotton, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and azlon were observed from FT-IR, indicating that the potential sources of microplastic and fiber could come from household laundry wastewater. Microplastics tended to accumulate in deeper depths at KG01 (p < 0.01), whereas other stations showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). However, this study provides evidence that mangroves can be a trap for microplastics and can be used as baseline data for future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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19 pages, 730 KiB  
Article
The Role of Microplastics in Marine Pathogen Transmission: Retrospective Regression Analysis, Experimental Design, and Disease Modelling
by Gorka Bidegain, Marta Sestelo, Patricia L. Luque, Ibon Uriarte, Arantza Iriarte and Fernando Villate
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(12), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10121837 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3307
Abstract
Marine wildlife and aquaculture species can accumulate large amounts of marine microplastic debris (MMD) (<1 mm) carrying pathogens, thus threatening the health of marine ecosystems and posing a risk to food safety and human health. Here, we outline a theoretical three-perspective approach for [...] Read more.
Marine wildlife and aquaculture species can accumulate large amounts of marine microplastic debris (MMD) (<1 mm) carrying pathogens, thus threatening the health of marine ecosystems and posing a risk to food safety and human health. Here, we outline a theoretical three-perspective approach for studying the relationship between MMD and disease. First, we provide a framework for retrospective analysis of MMD and pathogen loads in marine animal tissues to assess the relationship between these and other environmental variables in order to decide whether a compound or pathogen should be considered an emerging substance or organism. Second, we describe an experimental design for testing the effects of a variety of microplastics on infection intensity in two model species (oysters and zebrafish). Finally, we create a theoretical susceptible–infected microplastic particle and pathogen transmission model for bivalves and fish. Overall, the experiments and models we propose will pave the way for future research designed to assess the role of MMD as a vector for marine and human pathogens. This multi-faceted approach needs to be an urgent priority of the EU Strategic Research Innovation Agenda for addressing marine disease challenges related to MMD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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9 pages, 1559 KiB  
Article
Genotoxicity of Polystyrene (PS) Microspheres in Short-Term Exposure to Gametes of the Sand Dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis (Agassiz, 1864) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea)
by Andrey Alexandrovich Mazur, Viktor Pavlovich Chelomin, Elena Vladimirovna Zhuravel, Sergey Petrovich Kukla, Valentina Vladimirovna Slobodskova and Nadezda Vladimirovna Dovzhenko
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101088 - 5 Oct 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2363
Abstract
Microplastic pollution appears to be one of the major environmental problems in the world today, and researchers have been paying special attention to the study of the impact of microplastics on biota. In this article, we studied the short-term effects of polystyrene micro-spheres [...] Read more.
Microplastic pollution appears to be one of the major environmental problems in the world today, and researchers have been paying special attention to the study of the impact of microplastics on biota. In this article, we studied the short-term effects of polystyrene micro-spheres on genome integrity using the gametes of the Scaphechinus mirabilis sand dollar with the comet assay method. This highly sensitive method allowed us to identify the level of genome damage in both gametes before and after short-term exposure to PS microparticles. It was shown that primary polystyrene microspheres at concentrations of 104, 105, and 106 particles/L had a genotoxic effect during short-term exposure to the sperm of the sand dollar S. mirabilis, which was expressed as a significant increase in sperm DNA damage. The highest percentage of DNA damage (more than 20%) was detected in spermatozoa exposed for 1 h in water containing 105 microspheres of plastic per 1 L. Additionally, at all concentrations of microplastic studied in the experiment, the genetic damage index (GDI) values in spermatozoa exceeded the control level. However, regardless of the level of DNA damage, spermatozoa retained the ability to fertilise eggs with up to 97% efficiency. We must acknowledge that the genotoxic property of microplastic against sperm to some extent predicts the development of long-term adverse effects of environmental significance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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Review

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19 pages, 1938 KiB  
Review
The Dual Role of Microplastics in Marine Environment: Sink and Vectors of Pollutants
by Michele Arienzo, Luciano Ferrara and Marco Trifuoggi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(6), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060642 - 9 Jun 2021
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6956
Abstract
This review is a follow-up to a previous review published in Journal of Marine Science and Engineeringon the issues of accumulation, transport, and the effects of microplastics (MPs) in the oceans. The review brings together experimental laboratory, mathematical, and field data on the [...] Read more.
This review is a follow-up to a previous review published in Journal of Marine Science and Engineeringon the issues of accumulation, transport, and the effects of microplastics (MPs) in the oceans. The review brings together experimental laboratory, mathematical, and field data on the dual role of MPs as accumulators of hydrophobic persistent organic compounds (POPs), and their release-effect in the marine ecosystem. It also examines the carrier role, besides POPs, of new emerging categories of pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). This role becomes increasingly important and significant as polymers age and surfaces become hydrophilic, increasing toxicity and effects of the new polymer-pollutant associations on marine food webs. It was not the intention to provide too many detailed examples of carriers and co-contaminants, exposed marine species, and effects. Instead, the views of two different schools of thought are reported and summarized: one that emphasizes the risks of transport, exposure, and risk beyond critical thresholds, and another that downplays this view. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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18 pages, 3910 KiB  
Review
Research Progress in Transfer, Accumulation and Effects of Microplastics in the Oceans
by Michele Arienzo, Luciano Ferrara and Marco Trifuoggi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(4), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9040433 - 17 Apr 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5434
Abstract
One of the major concerns regarding the presence of plastics in ocean environments are the effects on marine biota. Plastics can be distinguished in macro- (≥25 mm), meso- (<25 mm–5 mm) micro- (<5 mm–1 µm), and nano-plastic (<1 µm) and are practically omnipresent [...] Read more.
One of the major concerns regarding the presence of plastics in ocean environments are the effects on marine biota. Plastics can be distinguished in macro- (≥25 mm), meso- (<25 mm–5 mm) micro- (<5 mm–1 µm), and nano-plastic (<1 µm) and are practically omnipresent in aquatic habitats and subject to long-range transport. The purpose of this review is to report the last findings on the release, transfer, accumulation, and effects of micro-plastics, MPs, in the oceans. MPs have the chance to adsorb different kind of organisms and compounds on their outer surface, including bacteria, viruses, algae, and abiotic substances. In this way, they can cause sever hazard once they enter the food chain. Their harm to higher organisms is discussed as well as main routes of MPs–organism interactions, i.e., ventilation, and ingestion. Potential effects on populations, communities, and ecosystems and uptake routes and transition into tissues are discussed. In consideration of the potential threats of plastic particles to ecological functions and human health risks, we recommend specific directions of future research approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean)
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