PMID: 

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Jul 5 ;690:821-830. Epub 2019 Jul 5. PMID: 31302547

Abstract Title: 

Microplastics in fishes from the Northern Bay of Bengal.

Abstract: 

Microplastics were determined in pink Bombay-duck (Harpadon nehereus), white Bombay-duck (H. translucens) and gold-stripe sardine (Sardinella gibbosa) collected from the Northern Bay of Bengal at Bangladesh. Gastrointestinal tracts of fishes (n = 25 per species) were examined for microplastics following alkali digestion protocol, microscopic observations and chemical analysis by micro-Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscope (μ-FTIR). A total of 443 microplastic items were found in the intestines of H. nehereus, H. translucens and S. gibbosa, averaging in the range of 3.20-8.72 items per species. Among various shapes, colours and types of microplastics, irregular (37-43%), white/transparent (26-68%) and fiber (50-55%) were dominant. The size fraction of microplastics ranging between 1 μm and 5 mm was 68-84 items/kg biomass, and μ-FTIR analysis identified 13 particles of polyethylene terephthalate and 66 particles of polyamide. The study findings raised concern that microplastics in marine fish could be a threat to public health via the food chain.

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PMID: 

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Jul 15 ;691:848-857. Epub 2019 Jul 15. PMID: 31326808

Abstract Title: 

Microplastics as contaminants in the soil environment: A mini-review.

Abstract: 

Microplastics (MPs) have become a global environmental concern because of their ubiquitous presence. While extensive microplastic researches have focused on the marine environment, pervasive MPs contamination in soil and their detrimental impacts have been largely overlooked. Excessive concentrations of MPs and additives have been found in soil derived from the use of plastic mulches and the application of sewage sludge to fields. They may pose directly or indirectly as adverse effects on flora and fauna. The objectives of this review are (1) to summarize the abundance, sources, and properties of MPs in soil; (2) to analyze combined effects of MPs and various other environmental pollutants on soil system; and (3) to discuss the possible risks posed by MPs to soil biodiversity, food safety and human health. This review will highlight key future research areas for scientists and policymakers, and increase overall understanding of soil MPs pollution and its potential environmental impacts.

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PMID: 

Data Brief. 2019 Aug ;25:103989. Epub 2019 May 12. PMID: 31338395

Abstract Title: 

Data on microplastics in the digestive tracts of 19 fish species from the Yellow Sea, China.

Abstract: 

Microplastics (MPs) are the predominant form of marine plastic debris, and small enough to be ingested by marine organisms. Fish inhabiting coastal environments are susceptible to the ingestion of MPs. Presented data include the information of MPs level in the digestive tracts of 19 fish species which were caught from the Yellow Sea (31°28'52.380"∼38°49'15.540″ N, 120°42'36.840"∼124°49'06.180″E). For discussion and interpretation of the presented data, refer to the research article entitled"Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea"[1].

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PMID: 

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Jul 27. Epub 2019 Jul 27. PMID: 31352600

Abstract Title: 

Occurrence and identification of microplastics in beach sediments from the Hauts-de-France region.

Abstract: 

The present work was carried out to quantify microplastics (MP) from three sandy beaches along the Côte d'Opale coastline located in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Three different study sites located along the English Channel were investigated due to different levels of anthropopression and hydrodynamic conditions. Sediments were collected at three different tide lines: high tideline (HTL), middle of the intertidal zone (IZ), and low tide line (LTL), to investigate the effects of tide line on microplastic contamination. Particles and fibers were counted and colors were recorded; polymer identification was then performed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Particle and fiber abundances ranged from 23.4 ± 18.9 to 69.3 ± 30.6 items kgdry weight sediment, with a trend towards fiber predominance, were observed. No difference in particle and fiber abundance was found between the different beaches and tide lines, except for Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the particle number was significantly different between tide lines. Major polymers identified were polyethylene (36.6%) and polypropylene (10.7%). This citizen science project provided preliminary data about the abundance and polymeric nature of MP along the Côte d'Opale coastline.

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PMID: 

Environ Pollut. 2019 Jul 23 ;254(Pt A):112953. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PMID: 31362258

Abstract Title: 

Importance of atmospheric transport for microplastics deposited in remote areas.

Abstract: 

Atmospheric transport is an important pathway for the deposition of micro- and nano-plastics in remote areas. However, the sources and fate of atmospheric microplastics remain poorly understood. A study on atmospheric transport and deposition in the Pyrenean Mountains highlights the movement of microplastics away from known sources (cities, agriculture, and industry) into remote areas. Following this first evidence of atmospheric microplastic deposition in a pristine location, it is necessary to reconsider previous studies on atmospheric microplastic deposition and behavior in remote areas.

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PMID: 

Water Res. 2019 Oct 15 ;163:114909. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PMID: 31362213

Abstract Title: 

Average daily flow of microplastics through a tertiary wastewater treatment plant over a ten-month period.

Abstract: 

Microplastics (MPs,

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PMID: 

Environ Pollut. 2019 Jul 23 ;254(Pt A):112951. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PMID: 31374488

Abstract Title: 

Microplastics contamination in different trophic state lakes along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Basin.

Abstract: 

Microplastics can enter freshwater lakes through many sources. They can act as carriers to adsorb bacteria, virus, or pollutants (e.g., heavy metal and toxic organic compounds) that threaten human health through food chain. Microplastics can exist in surface water and sediments in freshwater lakes after they enter the lakes through discharge points. Wastewater discharge is the main cause of lake eutrophication and is the main emission source of microplastics. The correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance has been rarely reported. This study investigated the microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of 18 lakes along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin in the period of August-September 2018. The correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance in surface water and sediments was investigated and discussed. The microplastic abundance in surface water was approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that in sediments in all 18 lakes. Hong Lake had the highest microplastic abundance in surface water sample, and Nantaizi Lake had the highest microplastic abundance in sediment sample. The dominant microplastic shape was fiber of 93.81% in surface water sample and 94.77% in sediment sample. Blue-colored microplastics were dominant in nearly all lakes in surface water sample (around 40%-60%) and sediment sample (around 60%-80%), followed by purple- and green-colored ones. The microplastics size

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PMID: 

Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Sep ;117:109182. Epub 2019 Jul 1. PMID: 31387175

Abstract Title: 

Bisphenol A induces apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in colon and liver of mice in a mitochondria-dependent manner.

Abstract: 

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used industrial compound worldwide, was recently classified as an environmental toxicant. The intestines and liver are responsible for detoxification in humans and animals, and functional damage to these organs adversely affects the health of the body. However, the effect of BPA on intestinal and liver function remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary BPA uptake on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis and mitochondrial function in the colons and livers of mice. Dietary BPA uptake significantly reduced the body weights of mice as well as their colon and liver weights. Dietary BPA uptake increased the levels of oxidative stress indicators such as reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide in mouse serum, colon and liver tissues. Antioxidant indicators, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity, as well as proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α) were also significantly reduced in the serum, colon, and liver tissues in the BPA group. Moreover, mitochondria-encoded genes and mitochondrial copy numbers were significantly reduced in the colon and liver tissues of the BPA mice. Dietary BPA uptake also increased gene abundance and enzyme activity of caspase-3, -8, -9 and -10. Our study found that dietary BPA induced oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse colons and livers.

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PMID: 

Environ Pollut. 2019 Jul 22 ;254(Pt A):112919. Epub 2019 Jul 22. PMID: 31394341

Abstract Title: 

Acute and chronic effects of polystyrene microplastics on juvenile and adult Daphnia magna.

Abstract: 

We investigate the distribution and effects of polystyrene microplastic (MP) particles in exposure experiments with the ecotoxicology model organism Daphnia magna. The aim was to investigate the short and long-term toxicity of MP at different concentrations. To achieve this goal, the effects of 6 μm commercially available polystyrene beads on two different life-stages of D. magna:30 μg mlshowed higher sensitivity. We observed slightly increased mortality, reduced growth and stimulation of early reproduction at the cost of later reproduction. Animals exposed after reaching adulthood did not show increased mortality and showed a stimulation response with higher reproductive rates than the control group. However, both the growth rate of mother animals and the body size of newborn declined with increasing dose of MP. We conclude that these effects indicate a role of MP in mechanical interaction/interference with the animal on the level of feeding (clogging filtering functions), digestion (gut filled with plastic particles), and/or other animal behavior. The study also illustrates how MP with slow break-down rates may accumulate in the environment and enter the food-chain as obstructing non-food particles in filter-feeding organisms.

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PMID: 

Environ Sci Technol. 2019 Aug 13. Epub 2019 Aug 13. PMID: 31408609

Abstract Title: 

Consistent transport of terrestrial microplastics to the ocean through atmosphere.

Abstract: 

Although atmospheric transport and deposition could be an important pathway of terrestrial pollutants to the ocean, a few information concerning the presence and distribution of these suspended atmospheric microplastics in marine air is available. We investigated, for the first time, the occurrence and distribution of suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) in the west Pacific Ocean. In this study, the spatial distribution, morphological appearance, and chemical composition of suspended atmospheric microplastics were studied through continuous sampling during a cruise. SAMPs abundance ranged from 0 to 1.37 n/m3, the median of 0.01 n/m3. Fiber, fragment, and granule SAMPs quantitively constituted 60%, 31%, and 8% of all MPs, respectively. Interestingly, plastic microbeads with numerical proportion of 5% were also observed. A high suspended atmospheric microplastics abundance was found in the coastal area (0.13±0.24 n/m3), while there was less amount detected in the pelagic area (0.01±0.01 n/m3). The amount of suspended atmospheric microplastics collected during the daytime (0.45 ± 0.46 n/m3) was twice the amount collected at night (0.22 ± 0.19 n/m3), on average. Our observations provide field-based evidence that suspended atmospheric microplastics are an important source of microplastics pollution in the ocean, especially the pollution caused by textile microfibers.

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