Journal Article10.1016/J.ECSS.2015.12.003
Microplastics as vector for heavy metal contamination from the marine environment
Dennis Brennecke,Bernardo Duarte,Filipa Paiva,Isabel Caçador,João Canning-Clode,João Canning-Clode +5 more
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TL;DR: In this paper, the adsorption of two heavy metals, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), leached from an antifouling paint to virgin polystyrene (PS) beads and aged polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fragments in seawater was examined.
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Abstract: The permanent presence of microplastics in the marine environment is considered a global threat to several marine animals. Heavy metals and microplastics are typically included in two different classes of pollutants but the interaction between these two stressors is poorly understood.
During 14 days of experimental manipulation, we examined the adsorption of two heavy metals, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), leached from an antifouling paint to virgin polystyrene (PS) beads and aged polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fragments in seawater. We demonstrated that heavy metals were released from the antifouling paint to the water and both microplastic types adsorbed the two heavy metals. This adsorption kinetics was described using partition coefficients and mathematical models. Partition coefficients between pellets and water ranged between 650 and 850 for Cu on PS and PVC, respectively. The adsorption of Cu was significantly greater in PVC fragments than in PS, probably due to higher surface area and polarity of PVC. Concentrations of Cu and Zn increased significantly on PVC and PS over the course of the experiment with the exception of Zn on PS. As a result, we show a significant interaction between these types of microplastics and heavy metals, which can have implications for marine life and the environment. These results strongly support recent findings where plastics can play a key role as vectors for heavy metal ions in the marine system. Finally, our findings highlight the importance of monitoring marine litter and heavy metals, mainly associated with antifouling paints, particularly in the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
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Citations
“Plasti-remediation”: Advances in the potential use of environmental plastics for pollutant removal
Christian Ebere Enyoh,Franklyn Okechukwu Ohiagu,Andrew Wirnkor Verla,Qingyue Wang,Leila Shafea,Evelyn Ngozi Verla,Beniah Obinna Isiuku,Tanzin Chowdhury,Francis Chizoruo Ibe,M. A. H. Chowdhury +9 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an overview of the process of adsorbent preparation, plastic/pollutant interaction mechanisms (including kinetic and isotherm models), and factors influencing the removal rates and desorption of pollutants and reusability of the plastic-based adsorbents.
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Surface adsorption of metallic species onto microplastics with long-term exposure to the natural marine environment.
TL;DR: In this article, the ability of pre-production microplastic pellets to accumulate metals from the marine environment was investigated, showing that microplastics act as nucleation points and carriers of trace metal ions in marine environments.
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Trace Metals in the Environment
D. Paul Joseph,P. S. Ahuja,Mark Dockrell,Diane Purchase,Robert G. Price,S. S. Krishna,Javier García-Muñoz,Marcos Pérez‐López,Francisco Soler,María Prado Míguez,Salomé Martínez‐Morcillo,Edda Emanuela Guareschi,Kenneth Obinna Okolo,Evans Odumbe,Sylvia I. Murunga,Jackline Ndiiri,Ajay Kumar,Rakesh Kumar Singh +17 more
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TL;DR: High levels of trace metals in the environment can contaminate soil, cause toxicity to plants, and ultimately contaminate the food chain.
Toxic effects of pristine and aged polystyrene and their leachate on marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum
TL;DR: The acute toxic effects of pristine and aged polystyrene and their leaching solutions (L-PS) on microalgae Skeletonema costatum were investigated by measuring algal density and growth inhibition rate (IR), chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) over 96 hours as mentioned in this paper .
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