Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles
Emily M. Duncan,Emily M. Duncan,Annette C. Broderick,Wayne J. Fuller,Wayne J. Fuller,Tamara S. Galloway,Matthew H. Godfrey,Mark Hamann,Colin J. Limpus,Penelope K. Lindeque,Andrew G. Mayes,Lucy C. M. Omeyer,David Santillo,Robin T. E. Snape,Brendan J. Godley +14 more
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The likelihood that microplastic ingestion presents a significant conservation problem at current levels compared to other anthropogenic threats is assessed.Abstract:
Despite concerns regarding the environmental impacts of microplastics, knowledge of the incidence and levels of synthetic particles in large marine vertebrates is lacking. Here, we utilize an optimized enzymatic digestion methodology, previously developed for zooplankton, to explore whether synthetic particles could be isolated from marine turtle ingesta. We report the presence of synthetic particles in every turtle subjected to investigation (n = 102) which included individuals from all seven species of marine turtle, sampled from three ocean basins (Atlantic [ATL]: n = 30, four species; Mediterranean (MED): n = 56, two species; Pacific (PAC): n = 16, five species). Most particles (n = 811) were fibres (ATL: 77.1% MED: 85.3% PAC: 64.8%) with blue and black being the dominant colours. In lesser quantities were fragments (ATL: 22.9%: MED: 14.7% PAC: 20.2%) and microbeads (4.8%; PAC only; to our knowledge the first isolation of microbeads from marine megavertebrates). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) of a subsample of particles (n = 169) showed a range of synthetic materials such as elastomers (MED: 61.2%; PAC: 3.4%), thermoplastics (ATL: 36.8%: MED: 20.7% PAC: 27.7%) and synthetic regenerated cellulosic fibres (SRCF; ATL: 63.2%: MED: 5.8% PAC: 68.9%). Synthetic particles being isolated from species occupying different trophic levels suggest the possibility of multiple ingestion pathways. These include exposure from polluted seawater and sediments and/or additional trophic transfer from contaminated prey/forage items. We assess the likelihood that microplastic ingestion presents a significant conservation problem at current levels compared to other anthropogenic threats.read more
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What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta‐analysis and systematic review
TL;DR: Evidence is found that whether or not an effect is detected, as well as the severity and direction of the effect, is driven by dose, particle shape, polymer type, and particle size.
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Are we underestimating microplastic abundance in the marine environment? A comparison of microplastic capture with nets of different mesh-size
Penelope K. Lindeque,Matthew Cole,Rachel L. Coppock,Ceri Lewis,Rachael Z. Miller,Andrew J. R. Watts,Alice Wilson-McNeal,Stephanie L. Wright,Tamara S. Galloway +8 more
TL;DR: An estimate of the extent to which microplastic concentrations are underestimated with traditional sampling is provided, where coastal waters are predicted to have the greatest influence on marine life, on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean.
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Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory?
Sarah E. Nelms,James Barnett,Andrew Brownlow,Nicholas J. Davison,Rob Deaville,Tamara S. Galloway,Penelope K. Lindeque,David Santillo,Brendan J. Godley +8 more
TL;DR: A possible relationship was found between the cause of death category and microplastic abundance, indicating that animals that died due to infectious diseases had a slightly higher number of particles than those that died of trauma and other drivers of mortality.
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Critical Assessment of Analytical Methods for the Harmonized and Cost-Efficient Analysis of Microplastics:
Sebastian Primpke,Silke Christiansen,Win Cowger,Hannah De Frond,Ashok D. Deshpande,Marten Fischer,Erika B. Holland,Michaela Meyns,Bridget A. O'Donnell,Barbara E. Ossmann,Marco Pittroff,George Sarau,Barbara M. Scholz-Böttcher,Kara J. Wiggin +13 more
TL;DR: The state of the currently applied identification and quantification tools for microplastics are evaluated providing a harmonized guideline for future standardized operational protocols to cover these types of bills.
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Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters.
Francesca De Falco,Francesca De Falco,Mariacristina Cocca,Maurizio Avella,Richard C. Thompson +4 more
TL;DR: The results demonstrate for the first time that direct release of microfibres from garments to air as a consequence of wear is of equal importance to releases to water.
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