Odors from marine plastic debris elicit foraging behavior in sea turtles

Pfaller, Joseph B.; Goforth, Kayla M.; Gil, Michael A.; Savoca, Matthew S.; Lohmann, Kenneth J.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.071

Cited by 59 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Plastic debris get covered with algae and other microorganism after several days in the oceans that they start to scent like food. Sea turtles react to airborne olfactory receptors originating from bio-fouled plastics in the similar manner they react to food odors (Pfaller et al 2020), so the places where plastic wastes are concentrated can act as olfactory traps (Savoca 2018) that can drive the attention of other species and can be harmful.…”

Section: Current Studies On Microplastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Issac

Kandasubramanian

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

511

100

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Graphical abstract Surging dismissal of plastics into water resources results in the splintered debris generating microscopic particles called microplastics. The reduced size of microplastic makes it easier for intake by aquatic organisms resulting in amassing of noxious wastes, thereby disturbing their physiological functions. Microplastics are abundantly available and exhibit high propensity for interrelating with the ecosystem thereby disrupting the biogenic flora and fauna. About 71% of the earth surface is occupied by oceans, which holds 97% of the earth’s water. The remaining 3% is present as water in ponds, streams, glaciers, ice caps, and as water vapor in the atmosphere. Microplastics can accumulate harmful pollutants from the surroundings thereby acting as transport vectors; and simultaneously can leach out chemicals (additives). Plastics in marine undergo splintering and shriveling to form micro/nanoparticles owing to the mechanical and photochemical processes accelerated by waves and sunlight, respectively. Microplastics differ in color and density, considering the type of polymers, and are generally classified according to their origins, i.e., primary and secondary. About 54.5% of microplastics floating in the ocean are polyethylene, and 16.5% are polypropylene, and the rest includes polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, and polyamides. Polyethylene and polypropylene due to its lower density in comparison with marine water floats and affect the oceanic surfaces while materials having higher density sink affecting seafloor. The effects of plastic debris in the water and aquatic systems from various literature and on how COVID-19 has become a reason for microplastic pollution are reviewed in this paper.

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Section: Current Studies On Microplastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Issac

Kandasubramanian

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

511

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Microplastic particles are often found concentrated in an organisms' digestive tracts such that bivalves, tissues and cells, having potentially adverse effects caused by physical damage or intoxication by chemicals, that are released from the microplastics [51]. It was discovered recently that the sea turtles are attracted to the smell emanating from the bio-fouled plastic and are not attracted by the smell from pure microplastic [52]. Often, microplastics are readily ingested by zooplankton, that is a food source for the secondary consumers [53].…”

Section: Toxicity Associated With Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Safety and Security Investigations of Neustonic Microplastic Aggregates Near Water-Air Interphase

Vaseashta¹,

Ivanov²,

Stabnikov³

et al. 2021

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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Scientific and public concerns due to presence of microplastic debris in the marine and freshwater environment is fueling concerns of its impact on aquatic ecosystems and public health. Major sources of water-polluting microplastics are polyethylene and polypropylene, as they aggregate near the waterair interphase. Such neustonic hydrophobic cells attract spores of bacteria causing adverse impact on the environmental, health and food supply chain. The objectives of this review investigation were to (a): evaluate the concentration of microplastics with the sizes less 100 µm floating near the waterair interphase; (b): develop a phenomenological model to study fate and transport of microplastics; (c): analyze microbial coatings, and (d): assess potential impacts of biofilm-coated neustonic microplastics on environment. A thorough review of microplastic pollution in marine environment was conducted in terms of its size distribution, toxicity and toxicokinetic pathways. Since biofilms coated microplastics float near the surface, hydrophobic cells of bacteria typically concentrate within a few micrometers layer of water-air interphase. To develop a phenomenological model of neustonic floating biofilm-coated microplastics, samples with the size of less than 100 µm were collected from within a few millimeters near the water-air interphase and were subsequently concentrated using microfiltration of water samples for analysis. Results of the optical scan of hexadecane and bacterial cells formed on vertically submerged microscope slides near water-air interphase are presented. Additionally, microplastics near a thin layer of water-air interphase were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and particle analyzers. Since, hydrophobic and putative pathogenic bacteria are attached to water surface, which dominate near water-air interphase, biofilm-coated microplastics are more attractive for consumption by aquatic species than pure microplastics, which significantly increases negative impacts of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems and public health through foodchain supply. We conclude that it is critical to extend this investigation to include safety in terms of

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“…Indeed, the spectral band at 1637 cm -1 could be attributed to the water adsorption by starch 39 . The presence of hydrophilic compounds in latex balloons could be problematic because adsorption and osmotic processes could enhance the ability of balloons to absorb chemicals 54 and even the odor of the ocean, which may enhance balloons' attractiveness as food items to sea turtles 55 .…”

Section: J O U R N a L P R E -P R O O F 42 Latex Balloon Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latex balloons do not degrade uniformly in freshwater, marine and composting environments

Gilmour

Lavers

2021

Journal of Hazardous Materials

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Odors from marine plastic debris elicit foraging behavior in sea turtles

Cited by 59 publications

References 11 publications

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

Environmental Safety and Security Investigations of Neustonic Microplastic Aggregates Near Water-Air Interphase

Latex balloons do not degrade uniformly in freshwater, marine and composting environments

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