50 Years of Image Analysis

The plastic in microplastics: A review.

In the Anthropocene, in which we now live, climate change is impacting most life on Earth. Microorganisms support the existence of all higher trophic life forms. To understand how humans and other life forms on Earth (including those we are yet to discover) can withstand anthropogenic climate change, it is vital to incorporate knowledge of the microbial 'unseen majority'. We must learn not just how microorganisms affect climate change (including production and consumption of greenhouse gases) but also how they will be affected by climate change and other human activities. This Consensus Statement documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in climate change biology. It also puts humanity on notice that the impact of climate change will depend heavily on responses of microorganisms, which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.

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Scientists' Warning to Humanity: Microorganisms and Climate Change

We describe evidence regarding human exposure to microplastics via seafood and discuss potential health effects. Shellfish and other animals consumed whole pose particular concern for human exposure. If there is toxicity, it is likely dependent on dose, polymer type, size, surface chemistry, and hydrophobicity. Human activity has led to microplastic contamination throughout the marine environment. As a result of widespread contamination, microplastics are ingested by many species of wildlife including fish and shellfish. Because microplastics are associated with chemicals from manufacturing and that sorb from the surrounding environment, there is concern regarding physical and chemical toxicity. Evidence regarding microplastic toxicity and epidemiology is emerging. We characterize current knowledge and highlight gaps. We also recommend mitigation and adaptation strategies targeting the life cycle of microplastics and recommend future research to assess impacts of microplastics on humans. Addressing these research gaps is a critical priority due to the nutritional importance of seafood consumption.

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Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health.

Marine microplastic debris: An emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health.

The ubiquity of anthropogenic debris in hundreds of species of wildlife and the toxicity of chemicals associated with it has begun to raise concerns regarding the presence of anthropogenic debris in seafood. We assessed the presence of anthropogenic debris in fishes and shellfish on sale for human consumption. We sampled from markets in Makassar, Indonesia, and from California, USA. All fish and shellfish were identified to species where possible. Anthropogenic debris was extracted from the digestive tracts of fish and whole shellfish using a 10% KOH solution and quantified under a dissecting microscope. In Indonesia, anthropogenic debris was found in 28% of individual fish and in 55% of all species. Similarly, in the USA, anthropogenic debris was found in 25% of individual fish and in 67% of all species. Anthropogenic debris was also found in 33% of individual shellfish sampled. All of the anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in Indonesia was plastic, whereas anthropogenic debris recovered from fish in the USA was primarily fibers. Variations in debris types likely reflect different sources and waste management strategies between countries. We report some of the first findings of plastic debris in fishes directly sold for human consumption raising concerns regarding human health.

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Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption

Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption

Estimating the abundance of toxic Microcystis in the San Francisco Estuary using quantitative real-time PCR

Impacts of the 2014 severe drought on the Microcystis bloom in San Francisco Estuary.

The morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics of 23 strains of gliding bacteria isolated from diseased cultured flounder, Paralichthys olivaceous, in Japan were determined. The strains were classified into two groups: Group I (83 %) was identified as Flexibacter maritimus and Group II(17%) was tentatively identified as Flexibacter sp. until further characteristics will be studied to confirm its taxonomic identity.

Dolores V. Baxa

Papers

Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption

Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption

Estimating the abundance of toxic Microcystis in the San Francisco Estuary using quantitative real-time PCR

Impacts of the 2014 severe drought on the Microcystis bloom in San Francisco Estuary.

Characteristics of Gliding Bacteria Isolated from Diseased Cultured Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceous