Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as significant sources of harm to biota in various environments. However, the detrimental impacts of aged MPs with different structures and degradability remain poorly understood. In this study, aged MPs from polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS), representing biodegradable, aliphatic, and aromatic plastics, respectively, were prepared to examine their effects on microalgae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
July 2024
The insect possesses an exceptional capacity for ultrafast plastic biodegradation within 1 day of gut retention, but the kinetics remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the biofragmentation and degradation kinetics of different microplastics (MPs), i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
July 2024
The detrimental effects of plastics on aquatic organisms, including those of macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics, have been well established. However, knowledge on the interaction between plastics and terrestrial insects is limited. To develop effective strategies for mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems, it is necessary to understand the toxicity effects and influencing factors of plastic ingestion by insects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe insect exhibits ultrafast efficiency in biodegrading polystyrene (PS). However, the generation and fate of nanoplastics (NPs) in the intestine during plastic biodegradation remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of PS microplastics (MPs) mediated by larvae over a 4-week period and confirmed biodegradation by analyzing ΔδC in the PS before and after biotreatment (-28.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolyethylene terephthalate (PET or polyester) is a commonly used plastic and also contributes to the majority of plastic wastes. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) are capable of biodegrading major plastic polymers but their degrading ability for PET has not been characterized based on polymer chain size molecular size, gut microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome. We verified biodegradation of commercial PET by T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt remains unknown whether plastic-biodegrading macroinvertebrates generate microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) during the biodegradation of plastics. In this study, we utilized highly sensitive particle analyzers and pyrolyzer-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) to investigate the possibility of generating MPs and NPs in frass during the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams by mealworms ( larvae). We also developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict and unveil the fragmentation process of ingested plastics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is widely understood that microplastics (MPs) can induce various biological stresses in macroinvertebrates that are incapable of biodegrading plastics. However, the biodegradation and physiological responses of plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates toward MPs of different degradability levels remain unexplored. In this study, Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) were selected as a model of plastics-degrading macroinvertebrate, and were tested against three common plastics of different degradability rankings: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs (size <300 μm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvidence for plastic degradation by mealworms has been reported. However, little is known about the residual plastics derived from incomplete digestion during mealworm-mediated plastic biodegradation. We herein reveal the residual plastic particles and toxicity produced during mealworm-mediated biodegradation of the three most common microplastics, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the application of biodegradable polymers has grown, so has the interest in exploring the environmental behaviors of biodegradable microplastics (MPs). In this study, we investigated the interaction of oxytetracycline (OTC) with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) MPs after biodegradation, and explored the effect of the coexisting Cu(II) on OTC adsorption and desorption processes. The maximum adsorption amounts of virgin PBAT, biofilm PBAT, and degraded PBAT reached 692.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWastewater recycling helps address the challenge of microalgae biomass commercialization by allowing for efficient resource recovery. In this study, three conventional harvesting methods, including centrifugation, microfiltration, and flocculation sedimentation, were investigated to explore the effects of harvesting methods on the characteristics of recycled wastewater and the growth of microalgae to select a suitable harvesting method for the microalgal wastewater recycling system. During the wastewater recycling process, the least amount of accumulated substances was exhibited in the wastewater recycled by microfiltration, followed by centrifugation, and the most by flocculation sedimentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiodegradation of polystyrene (PS) in mealworms ( lavae) has been identified with commercial PS foams. However, there is currently limited understanding of the influence of molecular weight (MW) on insect-mediated plastic biodegradation and the corresponding responses of mealworms. In this study, we provided the results of PS biodegradation, gut microbiome, and metabolome by feeding mealworms with high-purity PS microplastics with a wide variety of MW.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolylactic acid (PLA) is biodegraded rapidly under composting or thermophilic temperature but slowly under natural conditions with substantial microplastics generated. In this study, we examined the feasibility of PLA biodegradation and developed a novel approach for PLA waste management using yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) to achieve biodegradation and resource recovery simultaneously. Results confirmed PLA biodegradation in mealworms as sole PLA and PLA-bran mixtures (10%, 20%, 30% and 50% PLA, wt/wt).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTenebrio molitor larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are capable of depolymerizing and biodegrading polystyrene and polyethylene. We tested for biodegradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in T. molitor larvae using rigid PVC microplastic powders (MPs) (70-150 μm) with weight-, number-, and size-average molecular weights (M, M and M) of 143,800, 82,200 and 244,900 Da, respectively, as sole diet at 25 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLarvae of Zophobas atratus (synonym as Z. morio, or Z. rugipes Kirsch, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are capable of eating foams of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), similar to larvae of Tenebrio molitor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSharp eyespot, caused by , has become one of the most severe diseases affecting global wheat production in recent decades. Quick and efficient screening methods are required to accelerate the development of cultivars for sharp eyespot resistance in wheat breeding. Here, a two-step colonized wheat kernels (TSCWK) method for the inoculation and classification of sharp eyespot resistance in seedlings was established in a greenhouse.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA β-zeolite-supported nickel and tungsten catalyst (Ni-W/β) was employed to generate C/C glycols (ethylene and propylene glycols) in a satisfactory yield from cellulose. After optimizing the acidity of the support, the Ni-W synergy and the co-catalyst, the yield of C/C glycols reached 70.1% (C %), with propylene glycol accounting for 51.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFYellow mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have been proven to be capable of biodegrading polystyrene (PS) products. Using four geographic sources, we found that dark mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio obscurus) ate PS as well. We subsequently tested T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPublished data on the association between CYP3A4*1B polymorphism and cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the association, we conducted a meta-analysis. A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Approximately 2 million doses of vaccine against haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have been used annually in China. However, there were limited studies focused on persistence of immune responses to HFRS vaccine in healthy adults. A phase 4, multicentre, open trial has been undertaken to assess antibody persistence after HFRS vaccination of healthy adolescents and adults aged 16-60 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Increased risks for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan virus have been observed since 2005, in Xi'an, China. Despite increased vigilance and preparedness, HFRS outbreaks in 2010, 2011, and 2012 were larger than ever, with a total of 3,938 confirmed HFRS cases and 88 deaths in 2010 and 2011.
Methods And Findings: Data on HFRS cases and weather were collected monthly from 2005 to 2012, along with active rodent monitoring.
Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease discovered in China in 2009. In July 2013, the first human infection with SFTS virus (SFTSV) was detected in Shaanxi Province, Western China.
Methods: A seroprevalence study among humans was carried out in an SFTS endemic village; specifically, serum samples were collected from 363 farmers in an SFTS endemic village in Shaanxi Province.
To investigate the genetic characterization of Human parainfluenza virus-3 (HPIV-3) circulating in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces of China, 719 throat swabs were collected from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections from 2009-2011. Multiplex RT-PCR was used to screen common respiratory viral pathogens. For HPIV-3-positive specimens, nested RT-PCR was used to amplify the HN gene of HPIV-3.
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