Fanping Meng

Bio: Fanping Meng is an academic researcher from Chinese Ministry of Education. The author has contributed to research in topics: Alexandrium tamarense & Shellfish poisoning. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 12 publications receiving 173 citations. Previous affiliations of Fanping Meng include Ocean University of China.

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Growth and Toxin Production of Alexandrium pacificum

Abstract: Microplastics (MP) widely distributed in aquatic environments have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Currently, the impact of MP on toxigenic red tide microalgae is poorly understood. In this study, the strain of Alexandrium pacificum ATHK, typically producing paralytic shellfish toxins (PST), was selected as the target. Effects of 1 and 0.1 μm polystyrene MP with three concentration gradients (5 mg L-1, 25 mg L-1 and 100 mg L-1) on the growth, chlorophyll a (Chl a), photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm) and PST production of ATHK were explored. Results showed that the high concentration (100 mg L-1) of 1 μm and 0.1 μm MP significantly inhibited the growth of ATHK, and the inhibition depended on the size and concentration of MP. Contents of Chl a showed an increase with various degrees after MP exposure in all cases. The photosynthesis indicator Fv/Fm of ATHK was significantly inhibited in the first 11 days, then gradually returned to the level of control group at day 13, and finally was gradually inhibited in the 1 μm MP treatments, and promotion or inhibition to some degree also occurred at different periods after exposure to 0.1 μm MP. Overall, both particle sizes of MP at 5 and 25 mg L-1 had no significant effect on cell toxin quota, and the high concentration 100 mg L-1 significantly promoted the PST biosynthesis on the day 7, 11 and 15. No significant difference occurred in the cell toxin quota and the total toxin content in all treatments at the end of the experiment (day 21). All MP treatments did not change the toxin profiles of ATHK, nor did the relative molar percentage of main PST components. The growth of ATHK, Chl a content, Fv/Fm and toxin production were not affected by MP shading. This is the first report on the effects of MP on the PST-producing microalgae, which will improve the understanding of the adverse impact of MP on the growth and toxin production of A. pacificum.

Microalgae based wastewater treatment for the removal of emerging contaminants: A review of challenges and opportunities

Abstract: Emerging contaminants (ECs) are attracting considerable attention due to their potential risk to human health and ecosystem. The past decade has seen a renewed importance in microalgae for bioremediating ECs from wastewater. Several proof of concept studies have been published to rationalize the use of microalgae for bioremediating ECs at laboratory conditions. However, there has been little discussion on real world application of microalgae for bioremediation purposes. This review paper sheds new light on obstacles faced in commercial use of microalgae for bioremediating ECs. The presence of multiple ECs and their affinity for microalgae raise some concern about the validity of laboratory findings. Dynamic changes of environmental conditions and accidental contaminations can significantly influence rate of bioremediation in large scale system. Appropriate pilot scale studies may bridge the gap between the laboratory scale studies and commercial scale applications. Considering the fate of ECs in microalgal cell, more research is needed in the direction of biodegradation assisted bioremediation due to end use of algal biomass. In fact, a wide range of extremophile microalgae species can be screened for selective removal of ECs. In-depth investigations are needed to characterize the quality of wastewater effluent after the separation of microalgal biomass. Notably, life cycle analysis related studies are needed to look at the viability of microalgae assisted bioremediation of ECs.