Plastic debris damages marine wildlife and ecosystems becoming an important source of marine pollution. In addition, they can sorb, concentrate and stabilise contaminants acting as toxic carriers to the marine food web. In this context, the presence of 18 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plastic pellets (n=5) and beach sediment (n=9) samples widely distributed around Greek coastal areas was assessed. The results, mainly, showed the sorption of PFASs onto pellet surface from surrounding water with concentrations from method limit of quantification to 115 ng/kg for C5, C7, C8 and C10 carboxylic acids and C8 sulfonate acid. A similar pattern was found by comparing plastic pellets and sediment for the same sampling locations that could indicate a common origin of contamination in both types of samples. However, since the number of analysed samples is limited, a more comprehensive study with a higher number of samples should be performed in future research.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.036 | DOI Listing |
Toxics
December 2024
Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, Campus Ecotekne, Via Prov. Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
The various forms of anthropogenic pollution are regarded as a serious threat to marine coastal areas. The overproduction and mismanagement of petroleum derivatives, such as tar and plastics, have resulted in a significant correlation between these two pollutants. The aggregation of tar, microplastics (MPs), and natural materials can create plastitar blocks, which are common in coastal areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran.
Oil pollution in marine environments, particularly along the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, has become a serious issue due to anthropogenic activities such as shipping, tourism, fishing, and urban development. This study aimed to assess the concentration and origin of PAHs, n-alkanes, hopanes, and steranes in sediment samples (coastal area and coastal line) and resin pellets collected from 30 stations along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea (Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan provinces). The results showed that PAHs concentrationranged from 530.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs, 1 µm-5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 µm), collectively termed micro(nano)plastics (MNPs), are pervasive airborne pollutants with significant ecological risks. Birds, recognized as bioindicators, are particularly vulnerable to MNP exposure, yet the extent and risks of MNP pollution in bird lungs remain largely unexplored. This study assessed MP exposure in bird lungs of 51 species and NP exposure in the lungs of five representative species using laser direct infrared (LDIR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) techniques, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Endocrinol (Lausanne)
January 2025
Biomedical and Translational Sciences Institute, Neuroscience Division, Athens, GA, United States.
Significance: Women are at increased risk for mood disorders, which may be partly attributed to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during sensitive periods such as pregnancy. Exposure during these times can impact brain development in the offspring, potentially leading to mood disorders in later life. Additionally, fluctuating levels of endogenous estrogens, as seen during pregnancy, or the use of oral contraceptives, can further elevate this risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Health (Wash)
January 2025
Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States.
In May 2021, the M/V ship fire disaster led to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles) and burnt plastic (pyroplastic). Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles and pieces of pyroplastic. Three years later, the toxicity of the spilled material remains unresolved.
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