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Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 70086

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Dr. Teresa A. P. Rocha-Santos

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Guest Editor

Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: plastics; nanoplastics; microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Catherine Mouneyrac

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Guest Editor

Université Catholique de l’Ouest, France
Interests: plastics; microplastics; nanoplastics; nanomaterials; coastal and estuarine ecotoxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Dear Colleauges,

Microplastics are contaminants in aquatic environments originating both from intentional production or fragmentation of larger plastics. Their accumulation and persistence in the environment and their potential to interact with other pollutants and organisms, as well as to change the abiotic characteristics of ecosystems, can lead to environmental consequences. Source identification and mapping are priorities, as they are critical steps for the reduction of microplastic inputs. It is estimated that over 80% of plastic pollution originates inland, being carried by rivers to the oceans. However, limited knowledge is available on the contribution of rivers to (micro)plastic pollution and its impact on the concentration found in coastal areas. Therefore, more research is needed in order to understand inland contributions (e.g., from rivers, wastewater, and rainwater) to microplastic pollution. Manuscripts regarding all aspects related to microplastic pollution, including analytical methodologies for sampling, characterization and analysis of microplastics, ecotoxicological evaluation of microplastic impacts, and microplastics as vectors of environmental contaminants and microorganisms, will be considered for publication. Both research and review papers are welcome.

Dr. Teresa Rocha-Santos
Prof. Dr. Catherine Mouneyrac
Guest Editors

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Keywords

microplastics
water
wastewater
analytical chemistry
ecotoxicology
environment, human health effects

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1275 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Are Microplastics Impairing Marine Fish Larviculture?—Preliminary Results with Argyrosomus regius

by Diana Campos, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Rui J. M. Rocha, Roberto Martins, Ana Candeias-Mendes, Sara Castanho, Florbela Soares, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Carlos Gravato and Ana L. Patrício Silva

Water 2021, 13(1), 104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w13010104 - 05 Jan 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4158

Abstract

The presence of small-sized (<300 µm) microplastics (MPs) in aquaculture facilities may threaten finfish hatchery, as their (in)voluntary ingestion by fish larvae may compromise nutritional requirements during early ontogeny, and consequently larval health and performance. Thus, we addressed the short-term effects (7 h) of polyethylene microplastics (0.1, 1.0, 10 mg/L, PE-MPs) in meagre larvae Argyrosomus regius (15 dph) in the presence/absence of food. Larval feeding behavior, oxidative stress status, neurotoxicity, and metabolic requirements were evaluated. Results showed that meagre larvae ingested PE-MPs regardless of their concentration, decreasing in the presence of food (Artemia metanauplii). The presence of PE-MPs compromised larval feeding activity at the highest concentration. Under starvation, exposed larvae activated the antioxidant defenses by increasing the total glutathione levels and inhibiting catalase activity, which seemed efficient to prevent oxidative damage. Such larvae also presented increased energy consumption potentially related to oxidative damage prevention and decreased neurotransmission. Biochemical responses of fed larvae showed a similar trend, except for LPO, which remained unaffected, except at 0.1 mg/PE-MPs/L. Our results suggest that small-sized MPs in finfish hatcheries may compromise larvae nutritional requirements, but at considerably higher levels than those reported in marine environments. Nevertheless, cumulative adverse effects due to lower MPs concentrations may occur. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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14 pages, 2432 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Distributions of Microplastics in Surface Water, Fish, and Sediment in the Vicinity of a Sewage Treatment Plant

by Tae-Jin Park, Seung-Hyun Lee, Myung-Sung Lee, Jae-Kwan Lee, Ji-Hyoung Park and Kyung-Duk Zoh

Water 2020, 12(12), 3333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12123333 - 27 Nov 2020

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 6707

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitously found in freshwater and marine environments worldwide. In particular, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or sewage treatment plants (STPs) have been recognized as a main source of microplastics in the receiving freshwater. However, only a few studies have been conducted to examine the impact of these facilities on receiving waters. In this study, we investigated the distribution of microplastics in surface water, fish, and sediment near a sewage treatment plant (STP) in the Tanchon stream, one of the main tributaries flowing into the Han River, Korea. The concentration of microplastics in water varied spatially and temporarily, ranging between 5.3 and 87.3 particles/m³ (31.4 ± 28.5 particles/m³). In fish, the concentration in upstream and downstream sites was 7.3 ± 7.3 and 12.4 ± 17.9 particles/fish, respectively. Spatially, the downstream site was the most polluted with microplastics in water and fish. The concentration of microplastics was positively correlated with fish body length and weight. In sediment, microplastic concentration in upstream and downstream sites was 493.1 ± 136.0 and 380.0 ± 144.2 particles/kg, respectively. The contribution of upstream to the microplastic load in downstream was 15.8% in dry season (April), which was higher than that of STP effluent and Yangjaechon creek. Meanwhile, the highest load was observed in STP effluent (5.1%) in rainy season (August). Microplastics were more abundant in water in the rainy season (37.4 ± 37.0 particles/m³) than in the dry season (28.2 ± 22.2 particles/m³). Polyethylene (49%) and polypropylene (18%) were the most abundant polymer types in water, fish, and sediment. Regarding shape of microplastics, fragments were dominant (95%) over fiber and film in water, fish, and sediment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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21 pages, 14545 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Structural Diversity in Early-Stage Biofilm Formation on Microplastics Depends on Environmental Medium and Polymer Properties

by Anja F. R. M. Ramsperger, Anja C. Stellwag, Anja Caspari, Andreas Fery, Tillmann Lueders, Holger Kress, Martin G. J. Löder and Christian Laforsch

Water 2020, 12(11), 3216; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12113216 - 17 Nov 2020

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5474

Abstract

Plastics entering the environment can not only undergo physical degradation and fragmentation processes, but they also tend to be colonized by microorganisms. Microbial colonization and the subsequent biofilm formation on plastics can alter their palatability to organisms and result in a higher ingestion as compared to pristine plastics. To date, the early stage of biofilm formation on plastic materials has not been investigated in context of the environmental medium and polymer properties. We explored the early-stage biofilm formation on polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) after incubation in freshwater and artificial seawater and categorized the structural diversity on images obtained via scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, by the measurement of the initial ζ-potential of the plastic materials, we found that PA with the highest negative ζ-potential tended to have the highest structural diversity, followed by PET and PVC after incubation in freshwater. However, PVC with the lowest negative ζ-potential showed the highest structural diversity after incubation in seawater, indicating that the structural diversity is additionally dependent on the incubation medium. Our results give insights into how the incubation medium and polymer properties can influence the early-stage biofilm formation of just recently environmentally exposed microplastics. These differences are responsible for whether organisms may ingest microplastic particles with their food or not. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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10 pages, 7003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microplastic Concentrations in Raw and Drinking Water in the Sinos River, Southern Brazil

by Marlon Ferraz, Amanda Leticia Bauer, Victor Hugo Valiati and Uwe Horst Schulz

Water 2020, 12(11), 3115; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12113115 - 06 Nov 2020

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5667

Abstract

Microplastics are omnipresent in the atmosphere, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, food and beverages. They may cause risks to biodiversity and the human population. The present study aims to assess the concentrations of microplastics in raw and drinking water of the Sinos River in Southern Brazil. The water was collected at eight locations along the Sinos River and in eight residences supplied with treated river water. The samples were processed by dying plastic particles with Nile Red and counting by fluorescence microscopy. River water showed an average of 330.2 particles L⁻¹ and treated water 105.8 particles L⁻¹. Fibers were the most abundant particles shapes in the samples. Particle abundance in the raw water did not follow the urbanization gradient in the Sinos River basin. The exact pathways of microplastic particles remain unidentified, but the predominance of fibers suggests that untreated sewage from washing machines may be a principal source of contamination, particularly in the headwaters. The microplastic in the drinking water is an additional factor to be considered in conservation efforts aiming at improving water quality in the Sinos River basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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27 pages, 5799 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization

by Mohammed S. M. Al-Azzawi, Simone Kefer, Jana Weißer, Julia Reichel, Christoph Schwaller, Karl Glas, Oliver Knoop and Jörg E. Drewes

Water 2020, 12(9), 2445; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12092445 - 31 Aug 2020

Cited by 85 | Viewed by 9662

Abstract

There is a growing interest in monitoring microplastics in the environment, corresponding to increased public concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on ecosystems. Monitoring microplastics in the environment is difficult due to the complex matrices that can prevent reliable analysis if samples are not properly prepared first. Unfortunately, sample preparation methods are not yet standardized, and the various efforts to validate them overlook key aspects. The goal of this study was to develop a sample preparation method for wastewater samples, which removes natural organic matter without altering the properties of microplastics. Three protocols, based on KOH, H₂O₂, and Fenton reactions, were chosen out of ten protocols after a literature review and pre-experiments. In order to investigate the effects of these reagents on seven polymers (PS, PE, PET, PP, PA, PVC, and PLA), this study employed µFTIR, laser diffraction-based particle size analysis, as well as TD-Pyr-GC/MS. Furthermore, the study discussed issues and inconsistencies with the Fenton reactions reported in the literature in previous validation efforts. The findings of this study suggest that both H₂O₂ and Fenton reactions are most effective in terms of organic matter removal from microplastic samples while not affecting the tested polymers, whereas KOH dissolved most PLA and PET particles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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25 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interacting Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics and the Antidepressant Amitriptyline on Early Life Stages of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta f. fario)

by Hannah Schmieg, Janne K.Y. Burmester, Stefanie Krais, Aki S. Ruhl, Selina Tisler, Christian Zwiener, Heinz-R. Köhler and Rita Triebskorn

Water 2020, 12(9), 2361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12092361 - 22 Aug 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3563

Abstract

Whether microplastics themselves or their interactions with chemicals influence the health and development of aquatic organisms has become a matter of scientific discussion. In aquatic environments, several groups of chemicals are abundant in parallel to microplastics. The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is frequently prescribed, and residues of it are regularly found in surface waters. In the present study, the influence of irregularly shaped polystyrene microplastics (<50 µm), amitriptyline, and their mixture on early life-stages of brown trout were investigated. In a first experiment, the impacts of 100, 10⁴, and 10⁵ particles/L were studied from the fertilization of eggs until one month after yolk-sac consumption. In a second experiment, eggs were exposed in eyed ova stages to 10⁵, 10⁶ particles/L, to amitriptyline (pulse-spiked, average 48 ± 33 µg/L) or to two mixtures for two months. Microplastics alone did neither influence the development of fish nor the oxidative stress level or the acetylcholinesterase activity. Solely, a slight effect on the resting behavior of fry exposed to 10⁶ particles/L was observed. Amitriptyline exposure exerted a significant effect on development, caused elevated acetylcholinesterase activity and inhibition of two carboxylesterases. Most obvious was the severely altered swimming and resting behavior. However, effects of amitriptyline were not modulated by microplastics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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21 pages, 7536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Sampling of Suspended and Floating Microplastics in Challenging Riverine and Coastal Water Environments in Japan

by Amila Abeynayaka, Fujio Kojima, Yoshikazu Miwa, Nobuhiro Ito, Yasuo Nihei, Yu Fukunaga, Yuga Yashima and Norihiro Itsubo

Water 2020, 12(7), 1903; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12071903 - 03 Jul 2020

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7779

Abstract

Environmental sampling plays an important role in quantitative and qualitative investigation of plastic pollution. Rivers are a major source, carrying plastic litter into the oceans. Microplastic sampling in riverine and coastal environments is often a challenging task due to limited access, time taken, costs, human resources, etc. Our present study evaluated the performance of newly developed sampling devices (Albatross Mark 5 and 6 (AM-5 and AM-6)) that were suitable to collect floating and suspended microplastic samples in challenging freshwater and coastal environments (95 locations). Our observations indicated a similar magnitude of microplastic concentrations with AM-5 and AM-6 sampling compared to conventional plankton nets. The sampling duration, originally 10–60 min (by plankton net), was reduced to 3 min (AM-5 and AM-6) for sampling water volumes of approximately 10 m³. The developed AM-6 device was used to collect samples from riverine and coastal environments in Japan. The microplastic particle polymer composition (using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR)), size, and shape (microscopic images) were investigated. The observations showed a statistically significant particle size reduction from the riverine to coastal areas. The dominant polymer types detected were polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The observations were complied with the coastal microplastic observations that were reported for previous studies in Japanese water environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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10 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Is the Minimum Volume of Sample to Find Small Microplastics: Laboratory Experiments and Sampling of Aveiro Lagoon and Vouga River, Portugal

by Joana C. Prata, Maria J. Manana, João P. da Costa, Armando C. Duarte and Teresa Rocha-Santos

Water 2020, 12(4), 1219; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12041219 - 24 Apr 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6262

Abstract

Small microplastics (<1 mm) comprise a great fraction of microplastics (<5 mm) found in the environment and are often overlooked due to the constrains of transporting and filtering large volumes of water in grab samplings. The objective of this work was to determine the minimum volume for reliable quantification of small microplastics in the environment. Different volumes (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5 L) of laboratory spikes (fresh and saltwater) and environmental samples were filtered. Sampling volumes of 0.5 L or 1 L are a good compromise between drawbacks, such as effort, time, organic and mineral matter, potential contamination, and reliability of results, evaluated by interquartile range, accuracy, coefficient of variation, and recovery rates. Moreover, the observation of Nile Red-stained environmental samples under 470 nm produced six-times higher concentrations than samples under 254 nm, namely, 18 microplastics L⁻¹ and 3 microplastics L⁻¹ for the Aveiro Lagoon and 1 microplastics L⁻¹ and 0 microplastics L⁻¹ for the Vouga River, Portugal. This work also raises concerns about the underreporting of environmental concentrations of microplastics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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12 pages, 2244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microplastic Fibers Released by Textile Laundry: A New Analytical Approach for the Determination of Fibers in Effluents

by Jasmin Haap, Edith Classen, Jan Beringer, Stefan Mecheels and Jochen S. Gutmann

Water 2019, 11(10), 2088; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w11102088 - 07 Oct 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7116

Abstract

The detection of shedded fibers in effluents from textile washing has attracted much attention due to its reported contribution to microplastic pollution. Commonly used analytical methods for fiber detection in liquids are based on filtration with subsequent microscopic analysis and/or gravimetric weighing. These approaches are time-consuming and prone to errors. In this study, an approach based on dynamic image analysis was applied in order to set up an efficient method to analyze fibers in effluents from washing processes. In an initial validation step, reliable information on the counts of fibers and the morphological characteristics were confirmed. For wastewaters from polyester-cotton blends, the chemical nature of the fiber debris (natural vs. synthetic origin) was determined by combining the dynamic image analysis with a chemical pre-treatment. In this study, dynamic image analysis was revealed as a rapid, non-destructive, precise, and reliable technology for the characterization and quantification of the fiber debris, offering a promising approach for fiber analysis in liquids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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Review

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16 pages, 711 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Perspectives on Micro(Nano)Plastics in the Marine Environment: Biological and Societal Considerations

by Joana Soares, Isabel Miguel, Cátia Venâncio, Isabel Lopes and Miguel Oliveira

Water 2020, 12(11), 3208; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12113208 - 16 Nov 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4526

Abstract

Marine litter is a global problem which has been negatively affecting the environment. Plastic materials are the most commonly found marine debris, with potential biological (not only for aquatic organisms but also for humans) as well as socio-economic impacts. Considering that it is an anthropogenic problem, society could play an important role to minimize it. Although a considerable amount of research has addressed the biological effects of plastics (micro(nano)plastics) on biota, few studies have addressed how scientific information is being transmitted to the public and the potential role of citizen environmental education. The current paper discusses known effects, researched topics and how scientific knowledge is currently being transmitted to the public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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Other

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10 pages, 599 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperPerspective

Aquatic Microplastic Research—A Critique and Suggestions for the Future

by Judith S. Weis

Water 2020, 12(5), 1475; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w12051475 - 21 May 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6138

Abstract

While there are numerous papers on microplastics (mps) being published every week, there is a need for improvement for the field to mature. The papers reporting numbers found in water bodies cannot be compared because there are no standard methods for collection and analysis. It is clear that using nets for sampling misses most of the microfibers, which are the most abundant form when whole water samples are analyzed, and that microscopic identification has a very high error rate compared to chemical analytical equipment which can also identify the polymers. It is clear that most animals studied eat mps; we should learn what attracts the animals to the mps and what proportion pass right through and are defecated vs those that move into the tissues. It is considered that mps are a vector for transfer of toxic chemicals into the food chain. Let us investigate to what degree what proportion of contaminants are removed in the digestive system vs. staying bound tightly to the mps. Experimental studies should also use environmentally relevant doses and the shapes and sizes of mps that are most abundant in the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Wastewater Treatment )

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