Search Results (49)

Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change, combined with the intensification of anthropogenic activity, may lead to changes in the physiology and distribution of native species. Compounding climate stress, microplastic particles (MPs) enter the oceans through wastewater and the breakdown of macroplastics. Depending on their composition, they can be harmful and act as a vehicle for toxic substances, although their effects on native Antarctic and subantarctic species are unknown. Notothenioid fish are members of this group and are found inside and outside Antarctica, such as the Harpagifer, which has adapted to the cold and is particularly sensitive to thermal increases. Here, we aimed to evaluate the innate immune response in the head kidney, spleen, and foregut of two notothenoid fish, Harpagifer antarcticus and Harpagifer bispinis, exposed to elevated temperatures and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) microplastics. Adults from both species were collected on King George Island (Antarctica) and Punta Arenas (Chile), respectively. Specimens were assigned to a control group or exposed to a temperature increase (TI) or PVC microplastics (MPs), separately or in combination (MPs + TI). MP exposures were oral (gavage) for 24 h or aqueous (in a bath) for 24 and 48 h. Using real-time qPCR, we evaluated the relative gene expression of markers involved in the innate immune response, including tlr2 (toll-like receptor 2), tlr4 (toll-like receptor 4), myd88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88), nfkb (nuclear factor kb), il6 (interleukin 6), and il8 (irterleukin 8). We found differences between treatments when H. antarcticus and H. bispinis were exposed independently to MPs or thermal increase (TI) in the experiment with a cannula, showing an up-regulation in transcripts. In contrast, a down-regulation was observed when exposed in combination to MP + TI, which looked to be tissue-dependent. However, transcripts related to innate immunity in the bath experiment increased when exposure to both stressors was combined, mostly at 48 h. These results highlight the importance of evaluating the effects of multiple stressors, both independently and in combination, and whether these species will have the capacity to adapt or survive under these conditions, especially in waters where temperature is increasing and pollution is also rising, primarily from MP-PVC, a plastic widely used in various industries and among the population. Full article

Macroplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern, threatening the marine environment. Despite growing awareness of marine plastic pollution, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of in situ technologies such as safety nets for macroplastic interception. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of safety net (SN) systems in intercepting macroplastic debris in the different zones of recreational Yugang Park Beach (YPB), Zhanjiang Bay, China. Safety nets were installed at stations representing different hydrodynamic conditions, and macroplastic debris (2.5–80 cm) was collected and analyzed for size, color, and shape characteristics. Two survey comparisons revealed a higher debris density in the winter survey (1.8 ± 0.3 items m²) than in the summer survey (1.5 ± 0.3 items m²). Most debris fell within the 10–40 cm range, with transparent low-density polyethylene plastic bags being the dominant type, particularly in the winter survey (80.7%). Statistical analysis indicated that plastic size was likely related to net retention characteristics, while tidal influences accounted for a major portion of spatial variability in debris accumulation. These findings suggest that SN systems are effective tools for macroplastic interception and could inform evidence-based coastal management strategies to reduce plastic pollution in similar coastal environments. Full article

Marine plastic pollution has become a critical transboundary environmental issue, particularly affecting coastal regions with insufficient waste management infrastructure. This study applies a modified Lagrangian hydrodynamic model, TrackMPD v.1, to simulate the movement and accumulation of macroplastics in the West Africa Coastal Area. The research investigates three case studies: (1) the Liberia–Gulf of Guinea region, (2) the Mauritania–Gulf of Guinea coastal stretch, (3) the Cape Verde, Mauritania, and Senegal regions. Using both forward and backward simulations, macroplastics’ trajectories were tracked to identify key sources and accumulation hotspots. The findings highlight the cross-border nature of marine litter, with plastic debris transported far from its source due to ocean currents. The Gulf of Guinea emerges as a major accumulation zone, heavily impacted by plastic pollution originating from West African rivers. Interesting connections were found between velocities and directions of the plastic debris and some of the characteristics of the West African Monson climatic system (WAM) that dominates the area. Backward modelling reveals that macroplastics beached in Cape Verde largely originate from the Arguin Basin (Mauritania), an area influenced by fishing activities and offshore oil and gas operations. Results are visualized through point tracking, density, and beaching maps, providing insights into plastic distribution and accumulation patterns. The study underscores the need for regional cooperation and integrated monitoring approaches, including remote sensing and in situ surveys, to enhance mitigation strategies. Future work will explore 3D simulations, incorporating degradation processes, biofouling, and sinking dynamics to improve the representation of plastic behaviour in marine environments. This research is conducted within the Global Development Assistance (GDA) Agile Information Development (AID) Marine Environment and Blue Economy initiative, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Asian. Development Bank and the World Bank. The outcomes provide actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and environmental managers aiming to combat marine plastic pollution and safeguard marine biodiversity. Full article

Plastic pollution in river systems is a growing concern, especially in the Mekong Delta, where complex tidal dynamics facilitate downstream transport of plastic waste into the marine environment. This study assessed the density, composition, and temporal variability of floating plastic waste in the Hau River, approximately 30 km upstream of the Tran De River estuary. Floating net traps were deployed during both ebb and flood tides to quantify plastic waste with simultaneous meteorological and hydrological monitoring. The findings highlight that key meteorological factors, such as air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, were found to indirectly influence plastic transport by altering surface currents and promoting plastic degradation. Meanwhile, hydrological conditions, especially tidal variability, play a direct and dominant role in determining the spatial and temporal distribution of plastic waste. Plastic debris was diverse in terms of items during both tidal phases. Although the number of plastic pieces was higher at ebb tide (134.33 pieces/h), the volume and concentration of plastic were greater at flood tide (1.22 kg/h and 0.73 kg/m³) than at ebb tide (0.81 kg/h and 0.29 kg/m³). Macroplastic debris was almost dominant during both ebb tide (97.29%) and flood tide (93.96%) compared to megaplastic and mesoplastic size. These findings highlight the importance of integrating tidal and climate factors into plastic waste management and support targeted interventions to reduce plastic discharge into coastal ecosystems. Full article

Urban growth has intensified the generation of solid waste, particularly in densely populated and vulnerable neighborhoods, leading to environmental degradation and public health risks. This study presents a multidisciplinary methodology to estimate the mass of macroplastic litter mobilized from urban surfaces into nearby watercourses during storm events. Focusing on the Villa Páez neighborhood in Cordoba, Argentina—a data-scarce and flood-prone urban basin—the approach integrates socio-environmental surveys, field observations, Google Street View analysis, and hydrologic modeling using EPA SWMM 5.2. Macroplastic accumulation on streets was estimated based on observed waste density, and its transport under varying garbage collection intervals and rainfall intensities was simulated using a conceptual pollutant model. Results indicate that plastic mobilization increases substantially with storm intensity and accumulation duration, with the majority of macroplastic mass transported during high-return-period rainfall events. The study highlights the need for frequent waste collection, improved monitoring in vulnerable urban areas, and scenario-based modeling tools to support more effective waste and stormwater management. Full article

As global plastic production increases, the problem of marine plastic pollution is becoming increasingly critical, and the development of effective identification technologies is particularly urgent as plastic debris not only poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems but also has a significant impact on human health. This paper presents the criteria for evaluating fluorescence technology and its mechanism for plastic identification, with an emphasis on its potential for the rapid detection of marine plastic pollution. By analyzing variations in the fluorescence lifetimes and intensities of plastics, different types of plastics can be effectively distinguished. In addition, this paper reviews the detection of microplastics using different fluorescent dyes and explores the fluorescence lifetime identification method. This paper also demonstrates the effectiveness of fluorescence techniques for macroplastic identification, highlighting how fluorescence lifetimes and decay rates change in various weathering environments. Monitoring these changes offers a foundation for establishing weathering models, aiding in understanding the transformation of macrolitter into microplastics. Future research should investigate the autofluorescence properties of different plastics further and focus on developing detection methods and instruments for various environments. This will improve the identification of plastic waste in complex environments. In conclusion, fluorescence technology shows great promise in plastic identification and is expected to provide substantial support for recycling plastic waste products and mitigating plastic pollution. Full article

Viscosimetric experiments and microscopy measurements on microdispersions of polycaprolactone (PCL) plastics showed an unexpected exponential decrease in viscosity over the first 3 months and a plateau for a further 4 months of observations. This behavior is due to the release of nanoplastics from semicrystalline particles that reduce the viscosity of the dispersion, and leave stable and fine crystalline microplastics ranging in size from 30 to 180 μm. The development of nonlinear kinetic models for the fragmentation process from macro- to meso-, micro-, and nanoplastics reveals complex behavior that we call a cracking–leaching mechanism. The autocatalytic mechanical cracking of macroplastics larger than 5 mm is followed by a logistic-type mechanical cracking of mesoplastics between 5 and 1 mm. Therefore, microplastics smaller than 1 mm experience the leaching diffusion modeled via nonlinear coupled kinetic differential equations: semicrystalline microplastics quickly release nanoplastics from the amorphous fraction, followed by fine and stable crystalline microplastics. This proposed mechanism explains the size distribution of floating plastic debris in the oceans, with an unexpected gap of microplastics. Considering the outcome, a general reflection is made on the critical issues that currently appear unsolvable regarding plastic pollution. Full article

Mesoplastics are emerging environmental pollutants that can pose a threat to the environment. Researching mesoplastics is crucial as they bridge the gap between macroplastics and microplastics by determining their role in plastic fragmentation and pathways, as well as their ecological impact. Investigating mesoplastic sources will help develop targeted policies and mitigation strategies to address plastic pollution. These pollutants are found across aquatic, terrestrial, and agricultural ecosystems. Unlike microplastics, mesoplastics are reviewed in the scientific literature. This paper focuses on existing published research on mesoplastics, determining the trends and synthesizing key findings related to mesoplastic pollution. Research primarily focused on marine and freshwater ecosystems, with surface water and beach sediments being the most studied compartments. Mesoplastics research often offers baseline data, with increased publications from 2014 to 2024, particularly in East Asia. However, certain ecosystems and regions remain underrepresented. Also, mesoplastics can disrupt ecosystems by degrading biodiversity, contaminating soils and waters, and affecting food chains. Mesoplastics can also become vectors for additives and pathogenic microorganisms, highlighting their environmental risks. Various factors influence mesoplastics’ prevalence, including anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic activities. With this, future research should expand into less-studied ecosystems and regions, explore mesoplastic interactions with pollutants and organisms, and promote public awareness, education, and policy measures to reduce plastic use and mitigate pollution globally. Full article

Plastic pollution is becoming an increasingly serious threat to the natural environment. Macroplastics, primarily polyethylene films, pose significant ecological and economic risks, particularly in the agricultural sector. Effective monitoring of their presence is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Conventional techniques for identifying environmental contaminants, based on field studies, are often time-consuming and limited in scope. In response to these challenges, a study was conducted with the primary aim of utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), multispectral cameras, and classification tools to monitor macroplastic pollution. The model object for the study was an industrial compost pile. The performance of four object-oriented classifiers—Random Forest, k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN), Maximum Likelihood, and Minimum Distance—was evaluated to effectively identify waste contamination. The best results were achieved with the k-NN classifier, which recorded a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.641 and an accuracy (ACC) of 0.891. The applied classifier identified a total 37.35% of the studied compost pile’s surface as contamination of plastic. The results of the study show that UAV technology, combined with multispectral imaging, can serve as an effective and relatively cost-efficient tool for monitoring macroplastic pollution in the environment. Full article

This paper highlights the complexity and urgency of addressing plastic pollution, drawing attention to the environmental challenges posed by improperly discarded plastics. Petroleum-based plastic polymers, with their remarkable range of physical properties, have revolutionized industries worldwide. Their versatility—from flexible to rigid and hydrophilic to hydrophobic—has fueled an ever-growing demand. However, their versatility has also contributed to a massive global waste problem as plastics pervade virtually every ecosystem, from the depths of oceans to the most remote terrestrial landscapes. Plastic pollution manifests not just as visible waste—such as fishing nets, bottles, and garbage bags—but also as microplastics, infiltrating food chains and freshwater sources. This crisis is exacerbated by the unsustainable linear model of plastic production and consumption, which prioritizes convenience over long-term environmental health. The mismanagement of plastic waste not only pollutes ecosystems but also releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide during degradation and incineration, thereby complicating efforts to achieve global climate and sustainability goals. Given that mechanical recycling only addresses a fraction of macroplastics, innovative approaches are needed to improve this process. Methods like pyrolysis and hydrogenolysis offer promising solutions by enabling the chemical transformation and depolymerization of plastics into reusable materials or valuable chemical feedstocks. These advanced recycling methods can support a circular economy by reducing waste and creating high-value products. In this article, the focus on pyrolysis and hydrogenolysis underscores the need to move beyond traditional recycling. These methods exemplify the potential for science and technology to mitigate plastic pollution while aligning with sustainability objectives. Recent advances in the pyrolysis and hydrogenolysis of polyolefins focus on their potential for advanced recycling, breaking down plastics at a molecular level to create feedstocks for new products or fuels. Pyrolysis produces pyrolysis oil and syngas, with applications in renewable energy and chemicals. However, some challenges of this process include scalability, feedstock variety, and standardization, as well as environmental concerns about emissions. Companies like Shell and ExxonMobil are investing heavily to overcome these barriers and improve recycling efficiencies. By leveraging these transformative strategies, we can reimagine the lifecycle of plastics and address one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. This review updates the knowledge of the fields of pyrolysis and hydrogenolysis of plastics derived from polyolefins based on the most recent works available in the literature, highlighting the techniques used, the types of products obtained, and the highest yields. Full article

Polyethylene and polystyrene are massively used around the world in various applications and are the most abundant plastic waste. Once in the marine environment, under the influence of physical and chemical factors, plastic products degrade, changing from the size category of macroplastics to microplastics. In order to study the effect of plastic on marine organisms, we modeled the conditions of environmental pollution with different-sized plastic—polystyrene microparticles of 0.9 µm and macro-sized polyethylene fragments of 10 cm—and compared their effect on biochemical parameters in the tissues of the bivalve mollusk Mytilus trossulus. Using biomarkers, it was found that regardless of the size and type of polymer, polystyrene microparticles and polyethylene macrofragments induced the development of oxidative stress in mussels. A significant decrease in the level of lysosomal stability in mussel hemocytes was observed. Increases in the level of DNA damage and the concentration of malonic dialdehyde in the cells of gills and the digestive gland were also shown. The level of total antiradical activity in cells varied and had a tissue-specific character. It was shown that both ingested polystyrene particles and leachable chemical compounds from polyethylene are toxic for mussels. Full article

The threat of plastic pollution has escalated to unprecedented levels, with particular concern surrounding microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers or particles (AFs) due to their wide distribution across ecosystems and their bioavailability to wildlife. Although research on the impact of plastic on wild birds is rapidly growing, knowledge of terrestrial species remains limited, especially regarding raptors, which have been significantly understudied. Here, we investigated the prevalence of MPs and AFs in regurgitated pellets from six protected terrestrial raptor species, namely the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), the Little Owl (Athene noctua), the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), the Red Kite (Milvus milvus), and the Barn Owl (Tyto alba), collected between 2022 and 2023. Our analysis revealed that 68% of the pellets contained MPs (47 out of 69), and 81% contained AFs (56 out of 69). Additionally, two macroplastics were found inside the pellets: a cable tie in a Red Kite and a bird identification ring in a Cinereous Vulture. The concentrations (mean ± standard error of the mean) were 2.39 ± 0.39 MPs/pellet and 5.16 ± 0.72 AFs/pellet. The concentration of MPs and AFs varied significantly among some of the studied species; however, no significant differences were observed among urban, rural, and protected areas. This could indicate that contamination levels are mainly related to the type of species. Fibers emerged as the predominant contaminant shape, with six different polymers identified, among which PET, PE, and acrylics were the most prevalent. These findings highlight that plastic pollution has reached protected terrestrial raptors and that the impact of plastic on their life cycles needs to be assessed. Full article

The primary data of micro- and macroplastics in the aquatic environment of Lake Markakol, located in the mountainous area of East Kazakhstan, are presented. The determination of micro- and macroplastics in water is based on sieving, drying, liquid oxidation, density separation and visual sorting using a microscope with a magnification of 40×. The detected plastic fragments in the aquatic environment include fishing line nets, Styrofoam balls, plastic bags, plastic bottles, wrappers, food labels and packages and other types of plastic waste. The sizes of the plastic fragments were ˃25 mm, 1.0–5.0 mm and 0.315–1.0 mm. The concentration of plastic in Lake Markakol was 837.5 µg/m³ in the tributaries and 482.1 µg/m³ in the lake water. The detected plastic mainly corresponded to sieve mesh sizes of 1.0–5.0 mm and 0.315–1.0 mm. The main sources of plastic pollution are fishing, tourism and the lack of adequate infrastructure for household waste management. These data emphasize the importance of measures to regulate plastic waste management in order to preserve the Lake Markakol ecosystem and maintain human health. Full article

Plastic pollution is a global problem affecting all ecosystems, and it represents most of the marine litter. Offshore aquaculture is a sector particularly vulnerable to this issue. To investigate this concern, the present study employed videography to monitor macroplastics at an offshore fish farm on Madeira Island (Portugal) and analysis of fish gut content to evaluate macroplastic ingestion by farmed sea bream Sparus aurata. Our analysis revealed that the majority of identified plastic debris originated from domestic use (66.66%) and fisheries/aquaculture activities (24.99%). While the number of dead fish suitable for sampling was limited (1.05% of the total mortality), macroplastic debris ingestion was identified in 5.15% of the total mortalities and reported for the first time in species in offshore farming conditions. Fish ingested fragmented plastic sheets, with the amount positively correlated with fish weight (r = 0.621, p = 0.031, n = 12). Notably, the stretched length of these fragments exceeded 50% of the standard length of most fish. Inconsistencies were observed in the number of samples collected per cage and per week. To ensure robust results, these discrepancies should be rectified in future studies. Additionally, extending the sampling period to encompass all seasons would be beneficial for a more comprehensive understanding of seasonal variations in plastic occurrence. Full article

Plastic production on a commercial scale began in the 1950s, reaching an annual production of 460 million metric tons in 2019. The global release of 22% of produced plastics into the environment has raised concerns about their potential environmental impacts, particularly on aquatic ecosystems. Here, we quantify and categorize plastic debris found along Richland Creek, a small, heavily forested watershed in western North Carolina, USA. Plastics within the riparian zone of seven 50 m reaches of Richland Creek and its tributaries were sampled two or three times. The 1737 pieces of collected plastic debris were returned to the lab where they were measured and categorized. A small-scale laboratory study using seven of the items collected was performed to determine their ability to break down into microplastics (particles < 5 mm in size). The majority (76%) of collected items were made of either plastic film (particularly bags and food wrappers, 43%) or hard plastics (e.g., bottles, 2%). However, when viewed on a surface area basis, films and synthetic fabrics (e.g., clothing, sleeping bags) equally dominated. Roughly three-quarters of the items collected had a width less than 10 cm, due primarily to the fragmentation of the original items; over two-thirds of the collected items were fragmented. Items composed of foams and films exhibited the highest fragmentation rates, 93% and 86%, respectively. Most collected plastics were domestic in nature, and the number of items increased downstream through more developed areas. Laboratory studies showed that plastic debris has a propensity to break down into microplastics. We believe the data collected here should be replicated in other streams, as these freshwater environments are the source of plastics that eventually enter the oceans. Full article