Dataset Information

Systematic Analysis of the Relative Abundance of Polymers Occurring as Microplastics in Freshwaters and Estuaries.

ABSTRACT: Despite growing interest in the environmental impact of microplastics, a standardized characterization method is not available. We carried out a systematic analysis of reliable global data detailing the relative abundance of polymers in freshwaters and estuaries. The polymers were identified according to seven main categories: polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane and a final category of miscellaneous plastic. The results show that microplastics comprised of polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane are significantly less abundant than would be expected based on global production, possibly due to their use. This has implications for models of microplastic release into the environment based on production and fate. When analysed by matrix (water, sediment or biota) distinct profiles were obtained for each category. Polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene were more abundant in sediment than in biota, while miscellaneous plastics was more frequent in biota. The data suggest that environmental sorting of microplastic particles, influenced by physical, chemical and biological processes, may play a key role in environmental impact, although partitioning among matrices based on density was not realized. The distinct profile of microplastics in biota raises an important question regarding potential selectivity in uptake by organisms, highlighting the priority for more and better-informed laboratory exposure studies.

SUBMITTER: Jones JI

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7764371 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Systematic Analysis of the Relative Abundance of Polymers Occurring as Microplastics in Freshwaters and Estuaries.

Jones John Iwan JI Vdovchenko Alena A Cooling Dave D Murphy John F JF Arnold Amanda A Pretty James Lawrence JL Spencer Kate L KL Markus Adriaan Albert AA Vethaak A Dick AD Resmini Marina M

International journal of environmental research and public health 20201212 24

Despite growing interest in the environmental impact of microplastics, a standardized characterization method is not available. We carried out a systematic analysis of reliable global data detailing the relative abundance of polymers in freshwaters and estuaries. The polymers were identified according to seven main categories: polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane and a final category of miscellaneous plastic. The results show that ...[more]

PMID: 33322709

Similar Datasets

Project description:Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in nature due to the proliferation of plastic in the environment. However, the presence of microplastics in lakes is largely unknown in comparison to other aquatic bodies. This study was performed to evaluate the abundance and characteristics of MPs in water, sediment, and fish from three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, namely Dhanmondi, Gulshan, and Hatir Jheel lake. The highest concentrations of microplastics in surface water (36 items/L), sediment (67 items/kg), fish (17 items/individual), and the gastrointestinal tract (4.88 items/gm) were observed. Highest abundance of microplastic in an individual fish was observed in Oreochromis mossambicus from Dhanmondi Lake. The samples were visually examined using stereomicroscope and SEM, which revealed that films were the most prevalent kind of microplastics in both the water and the sediment samples, whereas pellets and foams predominated in the fish samples. Visual observation also revealed MPs dominated by <100 μm in size and transparent in color. According to the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, the dominant polymers in the analyzed samples were high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, and polypropylene. MPs were relatively higher in the water and sediment samples of Gulshan Lake, and fish samples of Dhanmondi Lake. The results of this study indicate that microplastic contamination has occurred not only in the water and sediment but also in the inhabitant fishes of the lakes. However, it is discovered that the microplastic intake of fish was significantly related to body weight and length. The implication of the finding suggests that the presence of MPs in urban lakes has raised concerns about the potential human health impact. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The presence of microplastics was evaluated in three major urban lakes of Dhaka, Bangladesh.• Microplastic abundance was relatively higher in water and sediment samples of Gulshan Lake.• The highest microplastic abundance in an individual fish was observed in Oreochromis mossambicus from Dhanmondi Lake.• Films were prevalent in water and sediment samples, whereas pellets and foams were dominant in fish samples.• The dominant polymers were Polyethylene (PE), Polycarbonate (PC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinylchloride (PVC).

Project description:Ecological communities are increasingly exposed to multiple chemical and physical stressors, but distinguishing anthropogenic impacts from other environmental drivers remains challenging. Rarely are multiple stressors investigated in replicated studies over large spatial scales (>1000 kms) or supported with manipulations that are necessary to interpret ecological patterns. We measured the composition of sediment infaunal communities in relation to anthropogenic and natural stressors at multiple sites within seven estuaries. We observed increases in the richness and abundance of polychaete worms in heavily modified estuaries with severe metal contamination, but no changes in the diversity or abundance of other taxa. Estuaries in which toxic contaminants were elevated also showed evidence of organic enrichment. We hypothesised that the observed response of polychaetes was not a 'positive' response to toxic contamination or a reduction in biotic competition, but due to high levels of nutrients in heavily modified estuaries driving productivity in the water column and enriching the sediment over large spatial scales. We deployed defaunated field-collected sediments from the surveyed estuaries in a small scale experiment, but observed no effects of sediment characteristics (toxic or enriching). Furthermore, invertebrate recruitment instead reflected the low diversity and abundance observed during field surveys of this relatively 'pristine' estuary. This suggests that differences observed in the survey are not a direct consequence of sediment characteristics (even severe metal contamination) but are related to parameters that covary with estuary modification such as enhanced productivity from nutrient inputs and the diversity of the local species pool. This has implications for the interpretation of diversity measures in large-scale monitoring studies in which the observed patterns may be strongly influenced by many factors that covary with anthropogenic modification.

Dataset Information

Systematic Analysis of the Relative Abundance of Polymers Occurring as Microplastics in Freshwaters and Estuaries.

Publications

Systematic Analysis of the Relative Abundance of Polymers Occurring as Microplastics in Freshwaters and Estuaries.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets