Classification and distribution of freshwater microplastics along the Italian Po river by hyperspectral imaging

Fiore, Ludovica; Serranti, Silvia; Mazziotti, Cristina; Riccardi, Elena; Benzi, Margherita; Bonifazi, Giuseppe

doi:10.1007/s11356-022-18501-x

Cited by 42 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 81 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Polymers composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene were selected as pristine materials due to their overall production and dispersion into the environment [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Mandmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) is a spectroscopy technique widely used to identify organic materials. It has recently gained popularity in microplastic (MP) pollution research to determine the chemical composition of unknown plastic fragments. However, it could also be used to evaluate the degree of ageing of MPs collected from the environment. In this context, the principal aim of our research has been to qualitatively evaluate the natural weathering of environmental MPs collected in an Italian freshwater body (the Ofanto River) using ATR-FTIR technology. Furthermore, we compared environmental particles to weathered artificial MPs under controlled light and temperature conditions and to unaltered pristine materials to assess the results. FTIR spectra were acquired using a Nicolet Summit FTIR (ThermoFisher Scientific) equipped with an Everest ATR with a diamond Crystal plate and a DTGS KBr detector (wavenumber range 4000–500 cm−1, 32 scans per spectrum, spectral resolution of 4 cm−1). The degree of ageing was assessed using three different indexes known to be related to changes in MPs: Carbonyl Index (CI), Hydroxyl Index (HI), and Carbon-Oxygen Index (COI). The overall results showed that the regions reflecting changes (hydroxyl groups, peaks from 3100 to 3700 cm−1, alkenes or carbon double bonds, 1600 and 1680 cm−1, and carbonyl groups, 1690 and 1810 cm−1) appeared significantly modified in artificial and natural weathered particles compared to the pristine materials. The indexes calculated for polymers degraded under the artificial photo and thermo ageing conditions displayed a general tendency to increase with the time in contact with irradiation time. Particular enhancements of CI of PS fragment and PE pellet, HI of PE and PS fragments and PE pellet, and COI of PS fragment were observed. Otherwise, the following incubation of the same particles at a constant temperature of 45 °C did not further affect the chemical composition of the particles. Moreover, new unique peaks were also observed in the freshwater particles, almost all in the fingerprint region (1500–500 cm−1). Differences in CI, HI, and COI were evidenced among the different morphological MP shapes. On the one hand, the CI calculated for the environmental PE pellets showed values ranging from 0.05 to 0.26 with a mean value of 0.17 ± 0.10. Most samples (57%) presented a CI with values between 0.16 and 0.30. On the other hand, fragments presented slicer modifications in the carbonyl region with CI values lower than pellets (0.05 ± 0.05). This index helps evaluate the degradation of PE MPs by UV light, increasing with enhancing residence time in the environment. Conversely, fragments showed greater values of HI (5.90 ± 2.57) and COI (1.04 ± 0.48) than pellets, as well as lines, which presented the maximum value of HI (11.51). HI is attributed to the bond vibrations of hydroxyl, carboxyl, or phenol groups. In contrast, COI is frequently attributed to the vibrations of C_O bonds found in carbohydrates, alkanes, secondary alcohols, and ketones. In conclusion, our results showed characteristics spectra acquired from environmental particles compared to pristine and artificial aged ones. The interpretation of our main results emphasizes the need to conduct ecotoxicological experimental studies using naturally weathered particles due to the unicity of their properties, which are more helpful for understanding microplastic pollution effects.

show abstract

“…Polymers composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene were selected as pristine materials due to their overall production and dispersion into the environment [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Mandmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fragments (58.38%) were the dominant shape, followed by foams (14.40%), filaments (10.06%), fibers (8.28%), microbeads (3.94%), films (3.55%) and pellets (1.38%) (Figure 2.). Fragments usually originate from the breakdown of larger plastic particles (Bošković et al, 2022), fibers and filaments are usually derived from clothes, fabrics and fishing gear, microbeads from cosmetic products (Fan et al, 2021), films from packaging, bags or wrapping material and foams are probably due to the degradation of domestic packaging and pristine polystyrene (PS) foam (Fiore et al, 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics assessment in the Krka river estuary surface water

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microplastics (MPs), commonly defined as particles less than 5 mm, are a persistent ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminant that can be found in every environment, making it a global environmental, health, and socioeconomic problem. Due to their high surface area, MPs adsorb toxic pollutants that become bioavailable to organisms upon ingestion as they are often mistaken for food leading to biomagnification (Bule et al., 2020). The sampling area represents the lower part of the Krka River Estuary and is under direct anthropogenic influence from the city of Šibenik runoff waters, nautical and communal ports, city harbor, tourism, mariculture, and fishing. Estuaries and harbors have been recognized as hotspots and transfer pathways for MPs primarily because of the vicinity of the urban environment that emits contaminants from various sources (Miller et al., 2021). The main focus of this research was to determine MPs size, shape, color, surface area, and abundance in surface water using volume-reduced samples collected by a net. Laboratory protocol included sieving, wet peroxidation (H2O2), density separation (saturated NaCl solution), sonication, and filtration. Filter papers were then visually inspected for MPs. Image processing and measurements were carried out with ImageJ/Fiji open-source software.

show abstract

“…To this aim, different methods can be used (e.g., Raman, μRaman, FTIR microscopy, SEM) 51 – 53 . Innovative approaches are based on HyperSpectral Imaging (HSI) technique, which uses hyperspectral images acquired in the short-wave infrared range (SWIR: 1000–2500 nm) to characterize MPs in terms of abundance, distribution, category, morphological and morphometrical features, and polymer type 54 – 56 In 57 a review of 80 papers on microplastic particles in marine sediments for different sedimentary environments is proposed.…”

Section: Overview Of Suitable Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A set of guidelines as support for the integrated geo-environmental characterization of highly contaminated coastal sites

Rizzo,

Scicchitano,

Mastronuzzi

2024

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The knowledge of geomorphodynamic aspects is crucial for understanding marine and coastal processes/dynamics as well as for characterizing coastal environments heavily affected by anthropogenic activities. To provide a framework of analysis that can be applied in a consistent way for the geo-environmental characterization of highly contaminated coastal sites, in this paper a set of operational guidelines is proposed. Special attention is given to the role of geomorphological-based surveys and analyses in defining (i) the site-specific geological model of the investigated site, (ii) the anthropogenic impacts on marine and coastal sediments, (iii) the expected morphodynamic variations induced by climate change and anthropogenic interventions, (iv) tailored dissemination activities and community engagement plans. Then, an evaluation of the state of the art of activities already performed for the characterization of the coastal contaminated sites located in the Apulia region (southern Italy) is provided. The outcomes of this research are also provided in the form of infographics to favor their dissemination among communities and stakeholders.

show abstract

Classification and distribution of freshwater microplastics along the Italian Po river by hyperspectral imaging

Cited by 42 publications

References 81 publications

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

Microplastics assessment in the Krka river estuary surface water

A set of guidelines as support for the integrated geo-environmental characterization of highly contaminated coastal sites

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About