Rapid, detrimental response of estuarine benthic macrofauna communities to pollution by littered cigarette filters and e-liquid.

Cigarette butts are amongst the most littered single-use plastics on coasts, yet their impacts on marine ecosystems, especially on a community level, are not well understood. Recently, e-cigarettes have become popular and are a novel litter item in marine habitats. Preliminary research indicates that e-liquid can harm individual organisms, but few studies have been done and none on a community level.

Above- and below-ground field study on the impacts of conventional and alternative mesoplastics on Hordeum vulgare growth and soil invertebrate communities.

Plastic plays an important role in agriculture, but its use has become a concerning source of pollution. While new (bio)degradable, alternative plastics are being developed and used as mulching films, their ecological impacts, in particular under field conditions, are not well understood. Furthermore, there is a notable lack of knowledge on how plastic pollution affects soil invertebrate communities.

Ecotoxicological effects of leachate from e-cigarettes and e-liquid on the performance of perennial ryegrass (Loliumperenne).

Once littered, disposable e-cigarettes present a complex type of waste in the environment. They typically contain a lithium battery, electronics to produce vapour and remnant e-liquid, all of which could leach into the environment. The effects of littered e-cigarettes are not well understood, and they have not been tested in terrestrial ecosystems.

Impacts of pristine, aged and leachate of conventional and biodegradable plastics on plant growth and soil organic carbon.

Plastic is an essential component of agriculture globally, becoming a concerning form of pollution. Biodegradable alternatives are gaining attention as a potential replacement for commonly used, non-degradable plastics, but there is little known about the impacts of biodegradable plastics as they age and potential leachates are released. In this study, different types (conventional: polyethylene and polypropylene and biodegradable: polyhydroxybutyrate and polylactic acid) of micro- and meso-films were added to soil at 0.

Physical and chemical effects of conventional microplastic glitter versus alternative glitter particles on a freshwater plant (Lemnaceae: Lemna minor).

Glitters are primary microplastics which are directly littered into the environment, yet the ecological effects have seldom been tested. When microplastics enter the environment, their physical presence and chemical leachate may alter the physiology of primary producers. Glitter can be composed of plastic or natural and/or biodegradable materials, often with additives.

Disposable e-cigarettes and cigarette butts alter the physiology of an aquatic plant Lemna minor (Lemnaceae).

Cigarette butts are one of the most littered single-use plastic items worldwide and can have ecotoxicological effects. e-Cigarettes (or 'vapes') have gained popularity globally as an alternative to tobacco-based cigarettes in recent years. The increased availability of disposable e-cigarettes has resulted in a rise in their littering, presenting a complex form of e-waste in the environment, yet the environmental impacts of littered e-cigarettes are largely unknown.

Time to kick the butt of the most common litter item in the world: Ban cigarette filters.

Cigarette filters offer no public health benefits, are single-use plastics (cellulose acetate) and are routinely littered. Filters account for a significant proportion of plastic litter worldwide, requiring considerable public funds to remove, and are a source of microplastics. Used cigarette filters can leech toxic chemicals and pose an ecological risk to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Implication of microplastics on soil faunal communities - identifying gaps of knowledge.

There is mounting evidence that plastic and microplastic contamination of soils can affect physico-chemical processes and soil fauna, as has been excellently summarised in many recently published meta-analyses and systematic reviews elsewhere. It has become clear that impacts are highly context dependent on, e.g.

The ecological impacts of discarded cigarette butts.

Cigarette butts, one of the most littered items globally, present a unique challenge to ecosystems due to their ubiquity, persistence, and potential for harm. Over 35 studies have examined the toxicity of cigarette butts in biota from aquatic and terrestrial habitats from microbes to mice, but many organisms and habitats have not been tested. Two-thirds of studies are on aquatic organisms, and lethal effects were common.

Effects of cigarette butts on marine keystone species (Ulva lactuca L. and Mytilus edulis L.) and sediment microphytobenthos.

Outdoor mesocosms with constantly flowing natural seawater were used to test the effects of littered cigarette butts on the filter feeder Mytilus edulis (blue mussel), the macroalga, Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) and sediment microphytobenthos in a semi-natural marine setting. Either conventional, cellulose acetate, or biodegradable, cellulose, smoked cigarette butts were added at densities of 0.25 or 1 butt L.

All that glitters is litter? Ecological impacts of conventional versus biodegradable glitter in a freshwater habitat.

Biodegradable plastics are becoming increasingly popular due to global concerns about plastic pollution. In this study, the impacts of glitter manufactured of conventional, non-biodegradable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) versus glitter of alternative materials (modified regenerated cellulose (MRC), mica or synthetic mica) on the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of freshwater, lotic habitats were compared using a semi-natural mesocosm experiment. After 36 days, there was no effect of glitter on overall assemblage structure or diversity indices, however there was a two-fold increase in the abundance of New Zealand mud snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) in response to MRC glitter.

Smoked cigarette butt leachate impacts survival and behaviour of freshwater invertebrates.

Smoked cigarette filters a. k.a.

Effects of Microplastics in Soil Ecosystems: Above and Below Ground.

Environmental contamination by microplastics is now considered an emerging threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Soil ecosystems, particularly agricultural land, have been recognized as a major sink of microplastics, but the impacts of microplastics on soil ecosystems (e.g.

Cigarette butts have adverse effects on initial growth of perennial ryegrass (gramineae: Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (leguminosae: Trifolium repens L.).

Cigarette filters (butts) are currently the most abundant form of anthropogenic litter on the planet, yet we know very little about their environmental impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, including plant germination and primary production. When discarded, filters contain a myriad of chemicals resulting from smoking tobacco and some still contain unsmoked remnants. A greenhouse experiment was used to assess the impacts of discarded filters of regular or menthol cigarette, either from unsmoked, smoked, or smoked cigarettes with remnant tobacco, on the growth and development of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) and Trifolium repens (white clover).

A comparison of sampling methods for seawater microplastics and a first report of the microplastic litter in coastal waters of Ascension and Falkland Islands.

To date there is no gold standard for sampling microplastics. Zooplankton sampling methods, such as plankton and Neuston nets, are commonly used to estimate the concentrations of microplastics in seawater, but their ability to detect microplastics is limited by their mesh size. We compared different net-based sampling methods with different mesh sizes including bongo nets (>500 μm), manta nets (>300 μm) and plankton nets (>200 μm and >400 μm) to 1 litre bottle grabbed, filtered (0.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Urban River Water.

Previous molecular-based studies have identified microorganisms of zoonotic and human nature in surface waters. Contaminated water can lead to human health issues, and the detection of pathogenic microorganisms is a valuable tool for the prevention of their spread. Water samples were taken from the River Tiber in and out of the city of Rome.

A validated UPLC-MS/MS method for the surveillance of ten aquatic biotoxins in European brackish and freshwater systems.

Over the past few decades, there has been an increased frequency and duration of cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in freshwater systems globally. These can produce secondary metabolites called cyanotoxins, many of which are hepatotoxins, raising concerns about repeated exposure through ingestion of contaminated drinking water or food or through recreational activities such as bathing/swimming. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) multi-toxin method has been developed and validated for freshwater cyanotoxins; microcystins-LR, -YR, -RR, -LA, -LY and -LF, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a and the marine diatom toxin domoic acid.

Microplastics Affect the Ecological Functioning of an Important Biogenic Habitat.

Biological effects of microplastics on the health of bivalves have been demonstrated elsewhere, but ecological impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of bivalve-dominated habitats are unknown. Thus, we exposed intact sediment cores containing European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) or blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in seawater to two different densities (2.5 or 25 μg L) of biodegradable or conventional microplastics in outdoor mesocosms.

Monitoring of freshwater toxins in European environmental waters by using novel multi-detection methods.

Monitoring the quality of freshwater is an important issue for public health. In the context of the European project μAqua, 150 samples were collected from several waters in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Turkey for 2 yr. These samples were analyzed using 2 multitoxin detection methods previously developed: a microsphere-based method coupled to flow-cytometry, and an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

Detection of Human Enteric Viruses in Freshwater from European Countries.

The transmission of water-borne pathogens typically occurs by a faecal-oral route, through inhalation of aerosols, or by direct or indirect contact with contaminated water. Previous molecular-based studies have identified viral particles of zoonotic and human nature in surface waters. Contaminated water can lead to human health issues, and the development of rapid methods for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms is a valuable tool for the prevention of their spread.

Effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on a marine ecosystem engineer (Arenicola marina) and sediment nutrient cycling.

Effects of microplastic pollution on benthic organisms and ecosystem services provided by sedimentary habitats are largely unknown. An outdoor mesocosm experiment was done to realistically assess the effects of three different types of microplastic pollution (one biodegradable type; polylactic acid and two conventional types; polyethylene and polyvinylchloride) at increasing concentrations (0.02, 0.

Two-Year Monitoring of Water Samples from Dam of Iskar and the Black Sea, Bulgaria, by Molecular Analysis: Focus on Mycobacterium spp.

The coast of the Bulgarian Black Sea is a popular summer holiday destination. The Dam of Iskar is the largest artificial dam in Bulgaria, with a capacity of 675 million m3. It is the main source of tap water for the capital Sofia and for irrigating the surrounding valley.

Impacts of discarded plastic bags on marine assemblages and ecosystem functioning.

The accumulation of plastic debris is a global environmental problem due to its durability, persistence, and abundance. Although effects of plastic debris on individual marine organisms, particularly mammals and birds, have been extensively documented (e.g.

Effects of non-indigenous oysters on microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning.

Invasive ecosystem engineers can physically and chemically alter the receiving environment, thereby affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, invasive throughout much of the world, can establish dense populations monopolising shorelines and possibly altering ecosystem processes including decomposition and nutrient cycling. The effects of increasing cover of invasive C.