Coastal Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastic Pollution: Effects on the Health of Humans and Ecosystems

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue that affects coasts across the globe. Since 1950, global plastic production has increased from 5 to 250 million tons per year, and 1/3 of this production is derived from disposable single-use plastics. Plastic fragments are classified by size, into microplastics (<5 mm), mesoplastics (5–20 mm), and macroplastics (>20 mm), and depending on their size, they can harm marine species in different ways. Marine plastic debris stems from both terrestrial and maritime sources, and coastal ecosystems, being in the interface between the two, are the point of first entry for ocean pollutants, usually via pipeline discharges, disposal from vessels, riverine input, atmospheric deposition, and nonpoint source runoff from land. Their effects can be detected at different levels: including acting as a vector of invasive species; negative socio-economic impacts, at both industrial (shipping and aquaculture) and touristic (yachting and tourism) levels; and affecting a wide range of marine organisms, including invertebrates and many species consumed as seafood.

Their economic importance for fishing and tourism, as well as the damage caused to them by human activity, make coastal ecosystems a priority when it comes to analysing the effects of plastic pollution on the health of both the ecosystems themselves and humans around them.

Original works, reviews, and short communications are all very welcome.

Dr. Alba Ardura Gutiérrez
Dr. Sara Fernandez Fernandez
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Diversity diversity	2.1	3.4	2009	18.3 Days	CHF 2100
Environments environments	3.5	5.7	2014	22.8 Days	CHF 1800
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering jmse	2.7	4.4	2013	16.4 Days	CHF 2600
Toxics toxics	3.9	4.5	2013	18.3 Days	CHF 2600
Water water	3.0	5.8	2009	17.5 Days	CHF 2600

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Diversity Environments JMSE Toxics Water

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11 pages, 1678 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Inhibitory Effect of Combined Exposure to Copper Ions and Polystyrene Microplastics on the Growth of Skeletonema costatum

by Haoyuan Liu, Yu Zhen, Xiuli Zhang and Lianyu Dou

Water 2024, 16(16), 2270; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162270 - 12 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1149

Abstract

As two significant pollutants, the increased concentrations of copper ions and microplastics in coastal waters pose a substantial threat to the health of marine ecosystems. This study explored the individual and combined toxic effects of copper ions and microplastics on the marine diatom [...] Read more.

As two significant pollutants, the increased concentrations of copper ions and microplastics in coastal waters pose a substantial threat to the health of marine ecosystems. This study explored the individual and combined toxic effects of copper ions and microplastics on the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum. The results indicated that copper ions at a concentration of 0.05 mg/L exerted a negative impact on the growth of S. costatum; however, the influence of microplastics on algal cell growth was more complex: there was no significant inhibition of algal cell growth observed within the first 72 h of cultivation, but a pronounced negative effect on cell growth was noted between 72 and 96 h, with high concentrations (10.00 mg/L) of microplastics even causing a premature stagnation phase in algal cell growth. When both pollutants were present simultaneously, their impact on cell growth was similar to that of the microplastic pollution group, yet the growth condition was better than that of the copper ion pollution group. Through investigation of adsorption rates and toxicity mitigation rates, it was found that the adsorption of copper ions by microplastics was a significant reason for the improved growth condition of algal cells in the mixed pollution group compared to the copper ion pollution group. However, in the later stages of cultivation, the inhibitory effect of microspheres on algal cell growth counteracted their mitigating effect on copper ion toxicity. This study provides a reference for evaluating the impact of microplastics and heavy metals on coastal ecosystem health and for revealing the interactions between different pollutants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Coastal Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastic Pollution: Effects on the Health of Humans and Ecosystems)

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12 pages, 3936 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Distribution and Environmental Impact of Expanded Polystyrene Buoys from Korean Aquaculture Farms

by Seongbong Seo and Young-Gyu Park

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12020256 - 31 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) buoys, commonly employed in South Korean aquaculture farms, are prone to fragmentation, generating substantial marine debris. The trajectories of EPS buoys dislocated from aquaculture farms were investigated using a Lagrangian particle-tracking model. Daily ocean current data from the 1/12° Hybrid [...] Read more.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) buoys, commonly employed in South Korean aquaculture farms, are prone to fragmentation, generating substantial marine debris. The trajectories of EPS buoys dislocated from aquaculture farms were investigated using a Lagrangian particle-tracking model. Daily ocean current data from the 1/12° Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model analysis and wind data from the 1/4° European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis were used as inputs. The particles were released daily, and the initial positions and number of particles were determined based on the usage of EPS buoys. Because EPS buoys are highly buoyant, both wind and ocean currents considerably influence their movement. To account for variations in the buoyancy of these buoys, three experiments were conducted, each considering different levels of windage. The simulation results closely aligned with the observed coastal distribution patterns of the large EPS debris. As the windage increases, the particles exhibit a swifter deviation from their original locations, highlighting the need for effective local management. Moreover, this increased windage affects the distribution patterns in regional seas, reducing the number of particles that flow into the East Sea, while increasing the number of particles that migrate into the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Coastal Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastic Pollution: Effects on the Health of Humans and Ecosystems)

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15 pages, 2278 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Microplastics Risk into a Three-Link Food Chain Inside European Hake

by Paula Cabanilles, Susana Acle, Andrés Arias, Paula Masiá, Alba Ardura and Eva Garcia-Vazquez

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050308 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are increasing in the marine environment as well as inside marine organisms, having an important effect on biological diversity. The trophic transfer of MPs was demonstrated under laboratory conditions, but this study is based on the analysis of preys found in [...] Read more.

Microplastics (MPs) are increasing in the marine environment as well as inside marine organisms, having an important effect on biological diversity. The trophic transfer of MPs was demonstrated under laboratory conditions, but this study is based on the analysis of preys found in stomach contents. MPs from Merluccius merluccius individuals caught in the Cantabrian Sea and preys inside their guts (blue whiting, and northern krill inside blue whiting) were analyzed. MPs with different chemical composition occurred inside every hake and their preys, with different damages, from aquatic life hazards with long lasting effects, to allergic skin reactions and respiratory irritation, not only for aquatic species and fishing resources, but also for humans through hake consumption. The similarity of MPs profiles from gills and seawater samples would support seawater as the main source of gill microplastics. The MPs profile of hake GIT was similar to that of hake preys inside. Despite the small sample size, the presence of MPs in all the tissues analyzed of hakes and their preys, together with the evidence of hazard compositions of some of them, highlights the need for policies and actions to reduce plastic and microplastic production and consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Coastal Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastic Pollution: Effects on the Health of Humans and Ecosystems)

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