With the arrival of the Anthropocene, society faces unprecedented challenges in environmental pollution and risk management. Despite many technological benefits of living in the “plastic age”, there are pervasive environmental and public health impacts resulting from the durability, unsustainable use and inappropriate waste management of plastics. In addition to the environmental impacts of larger plastic objects there is growing concern that microplastics (particles < 5mm) pose an even greater environmental risks as they can be toxic, either directly or indirectly via its additives. Recent evidence of increasing accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics (MnP) in aquatic environments including biofilms, sediments and groundwater, raises severe concerns universally. We now developed an improved understanding of MnP at the land surface, in oceans and in rivers. Yet, regarding the passage of MnP from headwaters to the oceans, our understanding of the sources, transport and transformation mechanisms, and changing impacts on environmental and public health risks is still limited. These knowledge gaps bear the risk of neglecting severe negative consequences for environmental and public wellbeing and risk underestimating the legacy of this environmental pollution problem that has been created, despite the fact that the scientific community, regulators and industry stakeholders recognize the global threat of MnP as a critically understudied emerging pollutant. Pushing the boundaries of the current research on MnP transport mechanisms and ecosystem impacts is of global relevance because MnP exposure in freshwaters is likely to be critically high, given that 1) the majority (70-80%) of all microplastics are reaching the sea via rivers, and 2) residence times may be much longer than previously anticipated (reaching decades to centuries). Accordingly, legacy pollution at aquatic-sediment interfaces and remobilization of pollutants if sediment conditions change is a vital concern with severe consequences for the environment and public health. The quantity and quality of freshwater resources is one of the most pressing concerns globally. Hence, quantifying MnP processing in rivers and other inland waters, including groundwater, and identifying contamination hotspots will inform policy development and lead to better environmental management and mitigation strategies. To generate novel insights on MnP dynamics during riverine transport, we encourage submissions from case studies, laboratory experiments, meta-analyses, and modeling along the headwater to ocean transition.
Lead Organizer: Zoraida Quiñones-Rivera, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 (zoraida.quinones@uregina.ca)
Co-organizers:
Stefan Krause, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham (s.krause@bham.ac.uk)
Bjoern Wissel, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 (bjoern.wissel@univ-lyon1.fr)
Laurent Simon, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 (laurent.simon@univ-lyon1.fr)
Presentations
06:30 PM
Novel Dynamic Technique, Nano-DIHM, for Rapid Detection of Nano/microplastics, Oil spills, Heavy Metals, and Biological matters in Aquatic Systems (5044)
Primary Presenter: Parisa Ariya, McGill University (parisa.ariya@mcgill.ca)
Novel Dynamic Technique, Nano-DIHM, for Rapid Detection of Nano/microplastics, Oil spills, Heavy Metals, and Biological matters in Aquatic Systems Parisa A. Ariya 1,2, *, Ryan Hall1, Zi Wang, and Devendra Pal21 Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B9, Canada;2 Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada. In diverse aquatic systems, anthropogenic and natural particle contaminants exist with widely unknown environmental fates. At McGill University, we developed a digital in-line holographic microscopy (nano-DIHM) technique for aquatic matrices for in situ real-time analysis of particle size, shape, intensity and phase. Nano-DIHM enables 4-D tracking of particles in water and their transformations in three-dimensional space. We demonstrate that nano-DIHM can be automated to detect and track oil spills/oil droplets in dynamic systems (Pal et al., 2021; Hall et al., 2022). We present how nano-DIHM can detect microplastics, biological entities such as MS2 bacteriophage as a representative biological-viral material and mercury-containing particles alongside other heavy metals as common toxic contaminants. Nano-DIHM shows the capability of observation of combined materials in water, characterizing the interactions of various particles in mixtures and particles with different coatings in a suspension. The observed sizes of the particles and droplets ranged from ∼1 to 200 μm. We herein discuss the ability of nano-DIHM to characterize and distinguish particle-based contaminants in water and their interactions in both stationary and dynamic modes with a 62.5 millisecond time resolution. The fully automated software for dynamic and real-time detection of contaminants will be of global significance. A comparison is also made between nano-DIHM and established techniques such as S/TEM for their different capabilities. Nano-DIHM can provide a range of physicochemical information in stationary and dynamic modes, allowing life cycle analysis of various particle contaminants in different aquatic systems and serving as an effective tool for rapid response to spills and remediation of natural waters. Since this equipment can be remotely sensed, it will provide a rapid response system for better management of the environmental and health challenges now and in future. References: · Devendra Pal, Yevgen Nazarenko, Thomas C. Preston and Parisa A. Ariya*✉Advancing the science of dynamic airborne nanosized particles using Nano-DIHM, Communications Chemistry, 14:170, 2021. Nature - COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY | (2021)4:170 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-021-00609-9 · Ryan Hall, Devendra Pal, and Parisa A. Ariya, A novel dynamic technique, Nano-DIHM, for rapid detection of oil, heavy metals, and biological spills in aquatic systems, Analytical Chemistry, 2022, 94, 32, 11390–11400; https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02396
06:30 PM
Shape of microplastics is an important factor for biofouling in the aquatic environment (5787)
Primary Presenter: Ula Rozman, University of Ljubljana (ula.rozman@fkkt.uni-lj.si)
Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most complex pollutants; they have different chemical composition, exist in different sizes, and shapes. Until recently, most laboratory studies have used spherical MPs, whereas most MPs found in the environment are fragments, fibres, and films, thus they may interact differently with the surrounding environment. In this context the aim of the study was to investigate the effects of MPs shape on biofilm development in the aquatic environment. MPs with the same size (approx. 100 µm) and chemical composition (polyethylene) with different shapes (spheres, fragments, and films) were aged in freshwater from a local stream under controlled laboratory conditions for six weeks. The water was changed every week to ensure enough nutrients and microorganisms. At the end of the experiment, the amount of biofilm, the concentration of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) within the biofilm, and the chlorophyll a content (as an indicator of the presence of microalgae) were evaluated. The greatest amount of biofilm was formed on the surface of films, while biofilm on spheres contained the highest concentration of EPS, followed by biofilm on fragments and films. Chlorophyll a content was the highest in biofilm on films, while almost no chlorophyll a was detectable in biofilm on spheres. Our results suggest that the composition of the biofilm may vary depending on the shape of MPs, which may affect the interactions of MPs with other pollutants and biota and thus their fate in the aquatic environment.
06:30 PM
MICROPLASTICS AS VECTORS OF OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGENS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT GENES IN WATERS IMPACTED BY TREATED WASTEWATER EFFLUENTS (6095)
Primary Presenter: Marirosa Molina, US Environmental Protection Agency (molina.marirosa@epa.gov)
Plastic pollution is ubiquitous worldwide. Smaller pieces of plastic (<5 mm) classified as microplastics (MPs) are of particular concern because they can be easily transported throughout the environment. As they travel, MPs can adsorb chemicals or nutrients and develop a biofilm housing a diverse microbial community, potentially containing bacterial pathogens. High- and low-density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs were incubated in mesocosm channels in river water (RW) and RW amended with treated wastewater (TWW) effluent to assess the impact on the presence of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and pathogens in the MP biofilm. Samples were collected at 2, 6, and 10 weeks of incubation and analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction markers for ARGs, integrase I1 (intI1), and the opportunistic pathogens Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbial diversity was significantly higher in MPs exposed to TWW, and no difference was observed in the alpha diversity among plastic types. After 10 weeks of exposure, both TWW and polymer type influenced the composition of the microbial community and produced significant increases in the abundance of intI1, S. maltophilia, and P. aeruginosa, but not of sulfonamide 1. This study supports the notion that MP in the environment may become reservoirs for pathogens and may facilitate transport of ARGs in environmental waters impacted by anthropogenic stressors.
06:30 PM
FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO THE ARCTIC, MICROPLASTICS ARE PERVASIVE THROUGHOUT THE OCEAN (7268)
Primary Presenter: Gordon Taylor, Stony Brook University (gordon.taylor@stonybrook.edu)
Synthetic plastic polymers are now significant marine contaminants, especially microplastic particles <5 mm (MPs) that enter the ocean through rivers, sewage treatment discharges and from urban runoff. Given accelerating production of plastic products, marine plastic pollution is expected to grow exponentially. Therefore, quantitative monitoring of marine MPs is critical for understanding sources, spatiotemporal distributions, possible sinks, and risks to marine organisms. To better understand MP particle composition and distributions across diverse marine environments, samples collected off the Northeastern coast of Venezuela (NECV), in the Gulf Stream Current (GSC), and Arctic Ocean (AO), were analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy. We catalogued MP particles from 1 to 300 µm, an important size fraction notably absent from most published MP surveys. MP particles were found in all samples, except those from 300 µm prefilters. MPs were significantly more abundant in NECV samples (2.1±0.5 x 105 MP L-1) than in GSC (1.1±0.5 x105 MP L-1) and AO (0.5±0.1 x105 MP L-1) samples. The most abundant polymers were polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate in NECV, GSC, and AO samples, respectively. In Niskin bottle samples from all sites, MP particle size ranged from 1 to 43 µm ESD, with 60% being less than 5 µm. Our results highlight: (1) the numerical importance of small MP particles in the ocean, (2) the potential risk for small suspension feeders, and (3) the shortcomings of MP surveys based on 300+ µm net tow collections.
06:30 PM
Fragmentation of virgin- and additive-containing polypropylene under simulated-sunlight exposure and mechanical abrasion (5072)
Primary Presenter: Young Kyoung Song, CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (songyk1621@gmail.com)
Microplastic fragments into nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) and is present in every environmental compartment. however, the weathering process and fragmentation rate are still poorly understood. To address this, we quantified the size distribution of produced NP and SMP particles on the surface of virgin- and additive-containing (PP) sheet. We achieved this by exposing them to photooxidation with water in a simulated sunlight chamber, followed by mechanical abrasion. The fragmentation rate of PP and PPa (additive-containing PP) was similar following 176 days of simulated sunlight exposure with subsequent mechanical abrasion (corresponding to 2.7 years of exposure in an outdoor environment in the Republic of Korea). However, considering the quadratic regression graphs for PP, which display the relationship between total particles produced and exposure duration, it is possible that the fragmentation rate of PP could be faster than PPa after a certain point of sunlight exposure duration (i.e., after 2.7 years). We also observed that mechanical stress from vortexing played a significant role in the production of MPs, but a smaller role in the production of NPs. Fragmented particle sizes produced through photooxidation and mechanical stress followed a power law distribution, with a scaling exponent of α = 2.87 ± 0.15, which was similar to a three-dimensional fragmentation pattern. Future studies with longer experimental periods are needed to precisely quantify the differences in fragmentation rates of PP and PPa under different environmental conditions.
06:30 PM
Aging and biodegradation of tire wear particles in the aquatic environment (5847)
Primary Presenter: Gabriela Kalcikova, University of Ljubljana (gabriela.kalcikova@fkkt.uni-lj.si)
Tire wear particles (TWP) are generated due to the abrasion of car tires and are considered one of the primary sources of microplastics in the environment. The TWP can enter water bodies from the road, either through runoff or airborne. When TWP enter the environment, they are subjected to environmental aging, but their aging, property change, and biodegradation have not yet been studied. Therefore, in this study, TWP were characterized and aged in natural water for 12 weeks under controlled laboratory conditions, monitoring the amount of biomass formed on particles, density changes, zinc, and total organic carbon (TOC) leaching. At the same time, the biodegradability of TWP was evaluated by testing in a closed respirometer. The results showed that the average size of TWP was about 50 µm and contained a high concentration of zinc (8873 µg/g). During aging, a biofilm formed rapidly on the surface of TWP, resulting in a decrease in density - the initial density was 1.9 g/cm3 and decreased to 1.2 g/cm3. Leaching of zinc was greatest during the first two weeks, after which the concentration gradually decreased. TOC analysis showed that TOC leached at the beginning of aging and then in the last four weeks, which is consistent with the measurement of the amount of biofilm, which decreased in the last four weeks, indicating the possible decomposition of the biofilm on TWP. Biodegradability testing did not reveal any biodegradation of TWP, so it was concluded that TWP can remain in the environment for a long period of time.
06:30 PM
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: HIGH-RESOLUTION MICROPLASTIC VERTICAL PROFILING WITH AAU – KRAKEN, A NOVEL IN-SITU PUMP FOR SMALL MICROPLASTICS SAMPLING (6575)
Primary Presenter: Lucian Iordachescu, Aalborg University (lio@build.aau.dk)
Microplastic (MP) pollution is well documented in surface waters, but data related to the vertical distribution, cycling and fate of MPs is still scarce. To fill knowledge gaps and improve MP sampling methods, we developed and tested a novel sampling device (AAU-KRAKEN) based on an active filtration system capable of filtering large volumes through the water column. The apparatus comprises a borehole deep-well pump in a steel cylinder with six filtering units (UFO) attached, each containing a 10µm steel filter. The filtered water is expelled through the device’s outlet equipped with a wing flowmeter. An integrated CTD probe provides online conductivity, temperature and depth. The device, deployed using an oceanographic winch, is activated and monitored remotely from the deck, filtering 3m3 of water in 30min. We performed high-resolution profiles in the Skagerrak (DK) within the Velux project MarinePlastic by sampling at six depths up to 100m. Moreover, we collected three consecutive samples at the same depth to assess the sampling’s short-term temporal variability. The collected samples were processed and analyzed with state-of-the-art methods (FPA-µFTIR-Imaging and siMPle automatic MPs analysis). AAU-KRAKEN significantly broadens the opportunities to understand the dispersion of small MPs along the water column, providing crucial insights into their vertical transport. The evaluation of MP in surface waters does not align with the projected discharge into the marine ecosystem, resulting in a significant query concerning the fate of plastic in the environment.
06:30 PM
Combined numerical and monitoring tools for a better management of marine litter in the coastal environment. The TRACE project. (7346)
Primary Presenter: José Alsina, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (jose.alsina@upc.edu)
It is assumed that the main source of plastic litter to the oceans is terrestrial from rivers and waterways. Therefore, the dominant plastic pathways from land sources to the ocean is via coastal regions. However, it is not clear how the plastic particles are transported by coastal waves and currents once they are discharged to the marine environment. Within the new TRACE project, a practical tool is being developed to understand floating marine litter (FML) pathways in coastal regions and to map hotspots, concentration values and their fluctuations. This tool combines a coastal FML numerical model and FML monitoring in coastal regions using a citizen science approach. The tool is applied to the coastal zone of Barcelona, a densely populated industrial and commercial zone. The numerical model uses hydrodynamic information from three different nested grids to obtain the FML transport with enough resolution at the coastal scale but also allowing a proper FML tracking over a regional scale and FML motion from river mouths to coastal regions and the continental shelf. The monitoring approach includes FML collection in city beaches, rivers mouths and drain discharge regions. Preliminary results from both monitoring and modelling shows large FML accumulation in the Barcelona coastline suggesting large storage rates of the FML in the coastal zone with large rates of FML from rivers returning to the dry beach and low export rates to the open ocean. The final presentation will discuss the FML transport pathways, accumulation regions and transport mechanisms in detail.
SS024P Down the Drain and Down the River: The Transport, Fate and Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastic on Their Way to the Oceans
Description
Time: 6:30 PM
Date: 7/6/2023
Room: Mezzanine