Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities

Horton, Alice A.; Walton, Alexander; Spurgeon, David J.; Lahive, Elma; Svendsen, Claus

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190

Cited by 2,754 publications

(1,198 citation statements)

References 155 publications

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“…There is no defined size for a particle categorized as "microplastic", but an upper limit of 5 mm is generally agreed upon in the literature [4,5]. Particles are present in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments (for example, [5]) but have also been observed in the remotest areas of the world [6]. Studies proved plastic particle appearance in deep-sea sediments [7] as well as trapped in Arctic Sea ice [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When exposed to sunlight, wind, and the chemical environment, the material alters and breaks down to debris of a few micrometres in size, which can easily be dispersed. Little is known about the biological effects, such as organism interaction with and ingestion of microplastics [9], but particle consumption has been widely observed in marine species [6], and particles may be retained in the gut or even cross the gut wall to be translocated within the body [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although terrestrial environments and freshwaters are recognized as the origins and transport paths of plastics, the majority of research to date focuses on the marine environment [6]. However, studies in freshwater environments have been rapidly advancing over recent years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, studies in freshwater environments have been rapidly advancing over recent years. Horton et al [6] gave a detailed overview of freshwater studies ranging from lakes (for example, [11,12]) to rivers [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and river sediments (for example, [20,21]). A number of studies have been performed that addressed the transport of microplastics in riverine systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A Methodology for Measuring Microplastic Transport in Large or Medium Rivers

Liedermann

Gmeiner

Pessenlehner

et al. 2018

Water

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Plastic waste as a persistent contaminant of our environment is a matter of increasing concern due to the largely unknown long-term effects on biota. Although freshwater systems are known to be the transport paths of plastic debris to the ocean, most research has been focused on marine environments. In recent years, freshwater studies have advanced rapidly, but they rarely address the spatial distribution of plastic debris in the water column. A methodology for measuring microplastic transport at various depths that is applicable to medium and large rivers is needed. We present a new methodology offering the possibility of measuring microplastic transport at different depths of verticals that are distributed within a profile. The net-based device is robust and can be applied at high flow velocities and discharges. Nets with different sizes (41 µm, 250 µm, and 500 µm) are exposed in three different depths of the water column. The methodology was tested in the Austrian Danube River, showing a high heterogeneity of microplastic concentrations within one cross section. Due to turbulent mixing, the different densities of the polymers, aggregation, and the growth of biofilms, plastic transport cannot be limited to the surface layer of a river, and must be examined within the whole water column as for suspended sediments. These results imply that multipoint measurements are required for obtaining the spatial distribution of plastic concentration and are therefore a prerequisite for calculating the passing transport. The analysis of filtration efficiency and side-by-side measurements with different mesh sizes showed that 500 µm nets led to optimal results.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Methodology for Measuring Microplastic Transport in Large or Medium Rivers

Liedermann

Gmeiner

Pessenlehner

et al. 2018

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Therefore, recent studies have also been investigating this issue with aims to standardize methods for macro-and microplastics extraction in locations such as sediment (Van Cauwenberghe et al 2015;Besley et al 2017), and fresh and seawater (EerkesMedrano et al 2015;Horton et al 2017), as well as characterizing and analyzing their distribution (Graca et al 2017;Mai et al 2018). In addition, the characteristics of polymeric chemical bonds that confer plastics their interesting manufacturing properties also make them susceptible to degradation, consequently losing their mechanical properties (Crawford and Quinn 2017b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and recovery of small-sized plastic debris from a Brazilian beach: characterization, recycling, and mechanical analysis

Palombini

Demori

Cidade

et al. 2018

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Small-sized plastic debris are an increasing global concern, particularly in environmental protected areas. Consequently, tourism-based economy of poor coastal regions is also impaired. Nevertheless, little interest has been shown about recycling approaches of such materials, mostly because of the natural degradation of polymers on these conditions. This research presents the report of the occurrence of plastic debris nearby Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, on the northeast Brazilian coast, aiming to provide a feasible method for recycling. We collected more than 80 samples from the sediment and classified them via FT-IR. Degraded polypropylene samples were selected for blending with virgin material using different concentration rates, and were mechanically tested. Tensile testing results suggest that 5% recycled material concentration mixture has suitable mechanical properties on the elastic regime for applications on new parts. Our findings show that particular interest should be addressed on the recovery of commodity plastic debris from environmental protected areas.

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Investigation of indoor microplastics in settled indoor house dust in single‐person residential buildings in Japan

Bai,

Lim,

et al. 2024

Japan Architectural Review

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Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are widely spread in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, which is a marked environmental concern. However, research on indoor microplastic pollution remains limited, particularly in Japan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the shape and composition of microplastics in house dust from single‐person households in four regions of Japan, including Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai. Micro‐Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, a technique that combines infrared spectroscopy with optical microscopy was used, allowing a detailed analysis by obtaining the specific interference patterns and absorption spectra of the materials. The influence of building structure, flooring, and wall materials on microplastic composition in indoor environments was also investigated. This study addresses crucial knowledge gaps regarding the extent, forms, and sources of indoor microplastics. These findings contribute to the development of targeted measures to mitigate indoor microplastic exposure, support efforts to improve indoor air quality, and protect public health.

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Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities

Cited by 2,754 publications

References 155 publications

A Methodology for Measuring Microplastic Transport in Large or Medium Rivers

A Methodology for Measuring Microplastic Transport in Large or Medium Rivers

Occurrence and recovery of small-sized plastic debris from a Brazilian beach: characterization, recycling, and mechanical analysis

Investigation of indoor microplastics in settled indoor house dust in single‐person residential buildings in Japan

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