Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions

Auta, H.S.; Emenike, C. U.; Fauziah, Shahul Hamid

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2017.02.013

Cited by 2,043 publications

(744 citation statements)

References 117 publications

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“…With their physical properties, plastic debris offer a unique habitat to host and carry over the oceans diverse microbial hitchhikers attached to their surface, creating the so-called "plastisphere", according to the denomination by Zettler et al [42,63]. A large fraction of plastic waste is composed of polyethylene (PE), followed by polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) [64]. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to microplastics; this term has been assigned to particles of PE, PP, polyamide and polyester smaller than 1 mm in size, which can accumulate in the oceans' depths, enter the food chain and cause significant damage to the marine ecosystem [65].…”

Section: Plastic Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Caruso¹

2020

JMSE

124

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Microbial biofilms are biological structures composed of surface-attached microbial communities embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix. In aquatic environments, the microbial colonization of submerged surfaces is a complex process involving several factors, related to both environmental conditions and to the physical-chemical nature of the substrates. Several studies have addressed this issue; however, more research is still needed on microbial biofilms in marine ecosystems. After a brief report on environmental drivers of biofilm formation, this study reviews current knowledge of microbial community attached to artificial substrates, as obtained by experiments performed on several material types deployed in temperate and extreme polar marine ecosystems. Depending on the substrate, different microbial communities were found, sometimes highlighting the occurrence of species-specificity. Future research challenges and concluding remarks are also considered. Emphasis is given to future perspectives in biofilm studies and their potential applications, related to biofouling prevention (such as cell-to-cell communication by quorum sensing or improved knowledge of drivers/signals affecting biological settlement) as well as to the potential use of microbial biofilms as sentinels of environmental changes and new candidates for bioremediation purposes.

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Section: Plastic Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Caruso¹

2020

JMSE

124

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“…Over 220 species of marine organisms, ranging from microscopic zooplankton to bivalves, fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, seabirds, and a host of other marine-associated species, have been documented to ingest plastics (Lusher et al 2017). The majority of microplastic pollution research in North America has sought to determine environmental concentrations of microplastics in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and sediments, with recent investigations of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as potential avenues for microplastics to enter aquatic ecosystems (Auta et al 2017;Gies et al 2018). For example, Mason et al (2016) reported the average concentration of microplastics in WWTP effluent across the United States as 0.05 AE 0.024 particles L −1 .…”

Section: Marine Microplastics: a Brief Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastic occurrence and effects in commercially harvested North American finfish and shellfish: Current knowledge and future directions

Baechler

Stienbarger

Horn

et al. 2019

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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As global seafood consumption rises, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which fisheries are affected by microplastic pollution. A growing body of literature describes the occurrence and effects of microplastics in commercial species, primarily from Europe, Asia, and South America; however, there are far fewer studies conducted in North America. In this article, we review the evidence available for the presence and effects of microplastics on commercially valuable fishery species of North America and possible consequences of human consumption. We identify key priorities for future research on this topic including geographic and taxonomic representativeness; physiological, organismal, and population level effects; microplastics as multiple stressors; human health risks; and standardization of field and lab protocols. AbstractCommercial fisheries yield essential foods, sustain cultural practices, and provide widespread employment around the globe. Commercially harvested species face a myriad of anthropogenic threats including degraded habitats, changing climate, overharvest, and pollution. Microplastics are pollutants of increasing concern, which are pervasive in the environment and can harbor or adsorb pollutants from surrounding waters. Aquatic organisms, including commercial species, encounter and ingest microplastics, but there is a paucity of data about those caught and cultured in North America. Additional research is needed to determine prevalence, physiological effects, and population-level implications of microplastics in commercial species from Canada,

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“…최근 플라스틱의 제조기술 개발로 인하여 세안제, 치약 및 각질제거제 등에 마이크로 비드 형태의 플라스틱이 사용되고 있으며, 이들은 사용 후 인근 수계로 배출되어 전 세계 해양 에 떠돌아 다니는 것으로 보고되어 지고 있다 (Ashton et al, 2010). 자연상태에서 플라스틱의 풍화 및 광분해 등으로 인해 분해된 나노 입자 크기의 플라스틱과 마이크로 비드 형태의 플라스틱을 총칭하여 미세플라스틱으로 불리어 지고 있는데, 이들은 해양 생물들에게 쉽게 노출되면서 포식자의 먹이로 오 인하여 섭취하게 되고 생물축정과정을 통한 해양생태계 파괴 와 인체의 미세플라스틱 섭취에 대한 우려가 점차 확대되고 있는 실정이다 (Auta et al, 2017;Ferreira et al, 2016) (Seo et al, 2008).…”

Section: Research Articleunclassified

Evaluation of Cd Adsorption Characteristic by Microplastic Polypropylene in Aqueous Solution

Eom¹,

Park²,

Kim³

et al. 2019

Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture

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BACKGROUND:In recent years, studies on microplastics have focused on their decomposition in the ocean. However, no studies have been reported on the interaction between microplastics and metal ions in aqueous solutions. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacity of cadmium(Cd) by polypropylene (PP) in aqueous solution. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cadmium adsorption characteristics of PP in aqueous solution were evaluated through various conditions including initial Cd concentration(1.25-25 mg/L), contact time(0.5-24 h), initial pH(2-6) and temperature(20-50℃). Cadmium adsorption fit on PP was well described by Freundlich isotherm model with adsorption capacity(K) of 0.028. The adsorption amount of Cd by PP increased with increasing contact time, indicating that adsorption of PP by Cd was dominantly influenced by contact time. Especially, the removal efficiency of Cd by PP was highest at high temperature. However, the surface functional groups of PP before and after adsorption of Cd were similar, suggesting that adsorption of Cd by PP is not related to surface functional groups. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that PP affects the behavior of Cd in aqueous solution. However, in order to clarify the specific relationship between microplastics and metal ions, mechanism research should be carried out.

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Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions

Cited by 2,043 publications

References 117 publications

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Microplastic occurrence and effects in commercially harvested North American finfish and shellfish: Current knowledge and future directions

Evaluation of Cd Adsorption Characteristic by Microplastic Polypropylene in Aqueous Solution

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