On the probability of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great lakes

Koelmans, Albert A.; Redondo‐Hasselerharm, Paula E.; Nor, Nur Hazimah Mohamed; Gouin, Todd

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121445

Cited by 24 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…As observed elsewhere in the Great Lakes basin, sediments in the Grand River had higher levels of microparticles than water, suggesting a greater potential exposure to sediment‐dwelling organisms. Despite this, the highest counts of microparticles in both water and sediments were approximately two to seven orders of magnitude lower, respectively, than the most conservative 5% hazardous concentration threshold effect concentrations for microplastics for both food dilution or translocation‐mediated toxicity recently published for the Great Lakes (547 particles/L for water exposures; 4.9 × 10 9 particles/kg for sediment exposures; Koelmans et al, 2023), suggesting negligible risks to benthic or pelagic species at these sites in the Grand River.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Microparticles in Wild and Caged Biota, Sediments, and Water Relative to Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharges

Weir,

Kidd,

Hamilton

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Anthropogenically modified microparticles including microplastics are present in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents; however, it is unclear whether biotic exposures are elevated downstream of these outfalls. In the fall of 2019, the present study examined whether microparticle levels in resident fish, environmental samples, and caged organisms were elevated near the Waterloo and Kitchener WWTP outfalls along the Grand River, Ontario, Canada. Wild rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) were collected from a total of 10 sites upstream and downstream of both WWTPs, along with surface water and sediment samples to assess spatial patterns over an approximately 70‐km river stretch. Amphipods (Hyalella azteca), fluted‐shell mussels (Lasmigona costata), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were also caged upstream and downstream of one WWTP for 14 or 28 days. Whole amphipods, fish digestive tracts, and mussel tissues (hemolymph, digestive glands, gills) were digested with potassium hydroxide, whereas environmental samples were processed using filtration and density separation. Visual identification, measurement, and chemical confirmation (subset only) of microparticles were completed. Elevated abiotic microparticles were found at several upstream reference sites as well as at one or both wastewater‐impacted sites. Microparticles in amphipods, all mussel tissues, and wild fish did not show patterns indicative of increased exposures downstream of effluent discharges. In contrast, elevated microparticle counts were found in trout caged directly downstream of the outfall. Across all samples, cellulose fibers (mainly blue and clear colors) were the most common. Overall, results suggest little influence of WWTP effluents on microparticles in biota but rather a ubiquitous presence across most sites that indicates the importance of other point and nonpoint sources to this system. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1–15. © 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Microparticles in Wild and Caged Biota, Sediments, and Water Relative to Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharges

Weir,

Kidd,

Hamilton

et al. 2024

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…In using the power law from Figure 1 E and extrapolating to total particles from 5 to 5000 μm (using the previously reported correction factor equation 7 ), the power law predicts particle concentrations from 1.3 to 12 particles per liter, while our flow cytometry counts in the 5 to 45 μm range alone averaged 1100 particles per liter. 33 An estimated threshold for risk assessment based upon a 5% species affected criterion and food dilution as a mechanism has been estimated as 11 to 521 particles (in the size range 1–5000 μm) per L 20 or averaging 547 particles per L. 48 Yet, the difference seen in predicted (1.3 to 12 particles per liter) vs measured (600 to 1600 particles per liter) particle numbers in our 5 to 5000 μm samples indicates that using the power law to predict microplastic counts is problematic because it is highly sensitive to the range of sizes measured in the sampling and leads to significant underprediction of the concentration of smaller plastics.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size Distributions of Microplastics in the St Louis Estuary and Western Lake Superior

Thomas,

Marchand,

Schwoerer

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Identifying the sources and fate of microplastics in natural systems has garnered a great deal of attention because of their implications for ecosystem health. This work characterizes the size fraction, morphology, color, and polymer composition of microplastics in western Lake Superior and its adjacent harbor sampled in August and September 2021. The results reveal that the overall microplastic counts are similar, with the harbor stations ranging from 0.62 to 3.32 microplastics per liter and the lake stations ranged from 0.83 to 1.4 microplastics per liter. However, meaningful differences between the sample locations can be seen in the size fraction trends and polymer composition. Namely, the harbor samples had relatively larger amounts of the largest size fraction and more diversity of polymer types, which can be attributed to the urbanized activity and shorter water residence time. Power law size distribution modeling reveals deviations that help in the understanding of potential sources and removal mechanisms, although it significantly underpredicts microplastic counts for smaller-sized particles (5−45 μm), as determined by comparison with concurrently collected microplastic samples enumerated by Nile Red staining and flow cytometry.

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“…Over the past several decades, there has been growing awareness of the ubiquity of plastic pollution in the natural environment − and the multitude of impacts it has on living organisms and ecosystems. − Plastic pollution is a chemical stressor: it leaches toxic substances over time, − which may induce hepatic stress, affect reproductive success, and lead to increased rates of mortality in living organisms. , Plastic can also cause physical damage through entanglement − or through a false sense of satiation , when it is ingested. Plastic can alter the cycling of carbon and nitrogen as it breaks down. − The multidimensional nature of plastic pollution makes it a wicked problem that transcends geographic boundaries, warranting global cooperation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A City-Wide Emissions Inventory of Plastic Pollution

Zhu,

Hoffman,

Rochman

2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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A global agreement on plastic should have quantitative reduction targets for the emissions of plastic pollution and regular measurements to track success. Here, we present a framework for measuring plastic emissions, akin to greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate its utility by calculating a baseline measurement for the City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. We identify relevant sources of plastic pollution in the city, calculate emissions for each source by multiplying activity data by emission factors for each source, and sum the emissions to obtain the total annual emissions of plastic pollution generated. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we estimate that 3,531 to 3,852 tonnes (T) of plastic pollution were emitted from Toronto in 2020. Littering is the largest source overall (3,099 T), and artificial turf is the largest source of microplastic (237 T). Quantifying source emissions can inform the most effective mitigation strategies to achieve reduction targets. We recommend this framework be scaled up and replicated in cities, states, provinces, and countries around the world to inform global reduction targets and measure progress toward reducing plastic pollution.

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On the probability of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great lakes

Cited by 24 publications

References 34 publications

Microparticles in Wild and Caged Biota, Sediments, and Water Relative to Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharges

Microparticles in Wild and Caged Biota, Sediments, and Water Relative to Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharges

Size Distributions of Microplastics in the St Louis Estuary and Western Lake Superior

A City-Wide Emissions Inventory of Plastic Pollution

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