A Thermal Analysis-Based Approach to Identify Different Waste Macroplastics in Beach Litter: The Case Study of Aquatina di Frigole NATURA 2000 Site (IT9150003, Italy)

Frigione, Mariaenrica; Marini, Gabriele; Pinna, Maurizio

doi:10.3390/su13063186

Cited by 12 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…It is also encountered in electronics such as in computers (Maddah, 2016). In a macroplastic study, PP has been associated to bottle cups, straws, and lolly sticks found on beaches (Frigione et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Camargo

Girard

Sanz‐Lázaro

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Microplastics (<5 mm) can have negative and deleterious environmental effects. However, the scarce information on the levels of microplastics and the factors underlying their input in wetlands, limits the understating of the vulnerability of these ecosystems to microplastics. To contribute closing this important information gap, the concentration (items/m−2), size and the variables related to the distribution of microplastics in fluvial sediments of the Cuiabá River, a tributary of the Pantanal, the world largest flooded Savanna and a UNESCO World Heritage were investigated. The mean microplastic level was 576.8 ± 577.8 items/m−2 of sediments which were mainly fragments (309.0 ± 319.6 items/m−2) and fibers (267.8 ± 339.9 items/m−2). The maximum level was 1938.8 items/m−2 found in the urban stretch of the sister cities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, the largest urban agglomeration in the study area. Unexpectedly, the composition of the microplastic with highest average level (240.7 ± 310.4 items/m−2), a blue synthetic fiber, could not be unequivocally determined by RAMAN spectrometry. Its complex composition includes Pb, Li and Nb, suggesting it may derive from electronic waste. Polypropylene (159.2 ± 133.4 items/m−2) and Polyvinyl Chloride (104.6 ± 217.2 items/m−2) were the second and third polymers with higher average levels. The average size of microplastics particles in sampling sites ranged from 0.18 mm to 1.74 mm. Microplastic concentration was positively related to urban areas. Similarly, microplastics particles size decreased with distance from urban areas. These results suggest that urban areas along the Cuiabá River, with poor waste management, are a major source of microplastic pollution in the Pantanal floodplain and that electronic waste might contribute significantly to this contamination. This study highlights the importance of adequate waste management in cities to limit microplastic contamination in areas of ecological importance, such as the Pantanal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Camargo

Girard

Sanz‐Lázaro

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…Polythene was unequivocally identified by IR spectroscopy-2919 (CH 2 asymmetric stretching vibration), 2851 (CH 2 symmetric stretching), 1473 and 1463 (bending deformation), 1366 and 1351 (wagging deformation), 1306 (twisting deformation), 1176 (wagging deformation), and 731 -720 cm −1 (rocking deformation)[44]. Also, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, Figure8) with a peak at 125˚C showed the typical thermal behavior of polythene[45]. The polythene microbeads made up 1.31 ± 0.39 w% of the filterable solid content of H1.…”

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confidence: 97%

Analysis of the Solid Contents of Toothpastes Available in UAE (United Arab Emirates) Markets

Elkashlan¹,

Poulose²,

Habib³

et al. 2022

JEP

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In order to find out whether any toothpastes commercially available in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carry microplastic content in form of plastic microbeads, the filterable solid contents of 31 toothpastes from UAE markets and 2 toothpastes imported from Syria were analyzed. FT-IR studies of the solids revealed that the major solid components were hydrated silica and calcium carbonate, where the individual toothpaste product exhibited either one or the other as the dominant constituent. Titrimetric analysis of the alkalinity of the ash of the toothpastes was carried out. The solids, ashed at 600˚C were subjected to FT-IR and EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic) analysis. The ash of some of the products was shown to have TiO 2 and Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 as minor components. Mostly organic dyes were used as colorants; however, iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) was also found. Importantly, none of the toothpastes carried any solid microplastic particles. Only 3 toothpastes carried microbeads at all, which were made of either silica or microcrystalline cellulose. This finding indicates that toothpastes, at least in the UAE, are no longer a significant source of microplastic in the environment. The results were compared to a toothpaste bought through the internet with a formulation from 2014, which exhibited polythene microplastic at 1.31 ± 0.39 w% of the filterable solid content.

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Environmental Risks and Human Health Impact of Microplastic Pollution

Ezeh,

Agu

2024

Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies

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A Thermal Analysis-Based Approach to Identify Different Waste Macroplastics in Beach Litter: The Case Study of Aquatina di Frigole NATURA 2000 Site (IT9150003, Italy)

Cited by 12 publications

References 47 publications

Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Analysis of the Solid Contents of Toothpastes Available in UAE (United Arab Emirates) Markets

Environmental Risks and Human Health Impact of Microplastic Pollution

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