How Many Soil Samples Do We Need to Take to Determine Concentrations of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Terrestrial Systems?

Author(s):  
Yingxue Yu ◽  
Markus Flury

<p>Plastics pollution of terrestrial environments is a global problem, and plastics have been observed even in remote areas. However, how much plastic is present in terrestrial ecosystems is not well known. Here, we present a theoretical framework for representative sampling of randomly distributed plastic particles in soils or sediments. Based on geostatistical analysis, we determined optimal sampling strategies to quantify micro- and nanoplastics in soils or sediments. We used numerical simulations to test the sampling of randomly distributed plastic particles, and determined the sampling support (number of cores or sampling area) needed to obtain plastic concentrations within a specific error. Plastic pollution in the field was numerically simulated by placing plastic particles randomly in two dimensional space. We then took soil samples with differently sized cores, and determined plastic concentration as a function of number of cores taken. We will show how many cores are needed to determine the plastic concentrations within a given error.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Vriend ◽  
Hidayat Hidayat ◽  
Reza Cordova ◽  
Noir. P. Purba ◽  
Ansje Lohr ◽  
...  

<p>Observational and modeling studies have suggested that Indonesia among the top plastic polluting countries globally. Data on the presence of plastic pollution are crucial to designing effective plastic reduction and mitigation strategies. Research quantifying plastic pollution in Indonesia has increased in recent years. However, most plastic research to date has been done with different goals, methods, and data formats. In this study, we present a meta-analysis of 85 studies published on plastic pollution in Indonesia to uncover gaps and biases in current research, and to use these insights to suggest ways to improve future research to fill these gaps. Research gaps and biases identified include a clear preference for marine research, and a bias towards certain environmental compartments within the marine, riverine, and terrestrial ecosystems, which are compartments that are easier to quantify such as riverbanks and beaches. Moreover, we identify polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene variants (HDPE, LDPE, PE) to be among the most frequently found polymers in both macro- and microplastic pollution, though polymer identification is lacking in most studies. Plastic research is mostly done on Java (57%). We recommend a shift in ecosystem focus of research towards the riverine and terrestrial environments, and a shift of focus of environmental compartments analyzed within these ecosystems. Moreover, we recommend an increase in spatial coverage across Indonesia of research, a larger focus on polymer characterization, and lastly, the harmonization of methods used to quantify plastic. With these changes, we envision future research that can aid with the design of effective reduction and mitigation strategies.</p>


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2329
Author(s):  
Leda-Eleni Tympa ◽  
Klytaimnistra Katsara ◽  
Panagiotis N. Moschou ◽  
George Kenanakis ◽  
Vassilis M. Papadakis

The outburst of plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems poses a potential threat to agriculture and food safety. Studies have already provided evidence for the uptake of plastic microparticles by several plant species, accompanied by numerous developmental effects, using fluorescence labelling techniques. Here, we introduce the implementation of confocal Raman spectroscopy, a label-free method, for the effective detection of microplastics (MPs) accumulation in the roots of a common edible root vegetable plant, Raphanus sativus, after treatment with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) powder. We also demonstrate the concomitant occurrence of phenotypic defects in the polymer-treated plants. We anticipate that this work can provide new insights not only into the extent of the impact this widespread phenomenon has on crop plants but also on the methodological requirements to address it.


2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Nocerino ◽  
Brian A. Schumacher ◽  
Curtis C. Dary

Paleobiology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy S. Myers ◽  
Neil J. Tabor ◽  
Louis L. Jacobs ◽  
Octávio Mateus

In this paper we present a method for estimating soilpCO2in ancient environments using the measured carbon-isotope values of pedogenic carbonates and plant-derived organic matter. The validity of soilpCO2estimates proves to be highly dependent on the organic δ13C values used in the calculations. Organic matter should be sourced from the same paleosol profiles as sampled carbonates to yield the most reliable estimates of soilpCO2. In order to demonstrate the potential use of soilpCO2estimates in paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies, we compare samples from three Upper Jurassic localities. SoilpCO2estimates, interpreted as a qualitative indicator of primary paleoproductivity, are used to rank the Late Jurassic terrestrial environments represented by the Morrison Formation in western North America, the informally named Lourinhã formation in Western Europe, and the Stanleyville Group in Central Africa. Because modern terrestrial environments show a positive correlation between primary productivity and faunal richness, a similar relationship is expected in ancient ecosystems. When the relative paleoproductivity levels inferred for each study area are compared with estimates of dinosaur generic richness, a positive correlation emerges. Both the Morrison and Lourinhã formations have high inferred productivity levels and high estimated faunal richness. In contrast, the Stanleyville Group appears to have had low primary productivity and low faunal richness. Paleoclimatic data available for each study area indicate that both productivity and faunal richness are positively linked to water availability, as observed in modern terrestrial ecosystems.


Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 369 (6510) ◽  
pp. 1455-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnie W. Y. Lau ◽  
Yonathan Shiran ◽  
Richard M. Bailey ◽  
Ed Cook ◽  
Martin R. Stuchtey ◽  
...  

Plastic pollution is a pervasive and growing problem. To estimate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce plastic pollution, we modeled stocks and flows of municipal solid waste and four sources of microplastics through the global plastic system for five scenarios between 2016 and 2040. Implementing all feasible interventions reduced plastic pollution by 40% from 2016 rates and 78% relative to “business as usual” in 2040. Even with immediate and concerted action, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste cumulatively entered aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To avoid a massive build-up of plastic in the environment, coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce plastic consumption; increase rates of reuse, waste collection, and recycling; expand safe disposal systems; and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Khureldavaa ◽  
Jiang He ◽  
Dekun Hou ◽  
Ruiqing Zhang ◽  
Fujing Zhang ◽  
...  

The residual characteristics of HCHs and DDTs in park soils and dusts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia were determined by GC-ECD to evaluate their potential pollution risk. The residual concentrations of total HCHs and DDTs in the park soil samples were ranged in 11.36-53.14 ng·g-1 and 11.96-24.70 ng·g-1 while it was ranged in 32.28-92.68 ng·g-1 and 13.45-24.41 ng·g-1 in the park dust samples, respectively. We have studied the ratio of α-HCH/γ-HCH in order to determine pollution sources which may come from either technical HCHs or lindane. The study revealed that concentration of DDTs in soil has direct correlation on usage rate of the dicofol and technical DDT in the sampling area. The soil pollution assessments based on the single pollution index of HCHs and DDTs indicated that Ulaanbaatar city’s park soil and dust were not polluted with these compounds.The single pollution index of HCHs reached to 1.85 in A park dust samples,indicating the park dust environment was potentially polluted. DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.5564/mjc.v15i0.315 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 15 (41), 2014, p15-20


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-tian Li ◽  
Pu Jia ◽  
Xiao-juan Wang ◽  
Shi-wei Feng ◽  
Tao-tao Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe widespread occurrence of sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs, which are typically considered anaerobic organisms) in temporarily oxic/hypoxic aquatic environments indicates an intriguing possibility that SRMs can prevail in continuously oxic/hypoxic terrestrial environments rich in sulfate. However, little attention has been paid to such a possibility, leading to an incomplete understanding of microorganisms driving terrestrial part of the global sulphur cycle.ResultsIn this study, genome-centric metagenomics was employed to explore SRMs in a revegetated acidic mine wasteland under continuously oxic/hypoxic conditions. We reconstructed 12 Acidobacteria and four Deltaproteobacteria genomes encoding reductive DsrAB, of which five represented three new SRM genera. Our results showed that Acidobacteria-related SRMs differed considerably from Deltaproteobacteria-related SRMs in metabolic potentials. Genomes of Acidobacteria-related SRMs harbored more glycoside hydrolase (GH) genes than those of previously known SRMs. They also tended to encode more oxygen-tolerant hydrogenases and cytochrome c oxidases, but less methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) than genomes of Deltaproteobacteria-related SRMs. More importantly, we discovered that SRM-infecting viruses can contribute to glycoside hydrolysis, chemotaxis and antioxidation of their hosts. Remarkably, one GH encoded by a SRM-infecting virus is responsible for the liberation of rhamnose (a monosaccharide that is accessible directly to SRMs for dissimilatory sulfate reduction) from plant cell-wall-derived oligosaccharides.ConclusionsTaken together, our results do not only improve our understanding of microorganisms driving dissimilatory sulfate reduction in terrestrial environments under continuously oxic/hypoxic conditions but also provides the first evidence for putative roles of viruses in S biogeochemical cycle in terrestrial ecosystems.


2005 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo M. Martins ◽  
Francisco F. M. Wallenstein ◽  
Nuno V. Álvaro ◽  
Ana I. Neto ◽  
Ana C. Costa

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Rien E. van Wijk ◽  
Yahkat Barshep ◽  
Keith A. Hobson

The measurement of stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2H) in animal tissues is a popular means of inferring spatial origins and migratory connections. However, the use of this isotope to infer diet and potentially trophic position remains poorly understood, especially in non-aquatic terrestrial ecosystems. In many animal communities, tissue δ15N values are strongly associated with trophic position. Correlations between tissue δ2H and δ15N are expected, then, if δ2H is affected by trophic enrichment of 2H. In addition, within sites, we would expect higher tissue δ2H values in insectivorous species compared to granivores or nectarivores. We tested these hypotheses for two resident avian communities in Nigeria consisting of 30 species representing a range of dietary guilds (granivores, frugivores, nectarivores, omnivores, insectivores) by comparing feather δ2H, δ15N and δ13C values. We found considerable isotopic overlap among all guilds except granivores, with no clear pattern of enrichment in 2H with trophic position. However, at one of our sites (open scrubland), feather δ2H was positively correlated with feather δ15N (R2 = 0.30) compared to a closed canopy forest site (R2 = 0.09). Our results indicate weak evidence for predictable trophic enrichment in 2H in terrestrial environments and indicate that controlled studies are now required to definitively elucidate the behavior of H isotopes in terrestrial food webs.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellie Boyle ◽  
Banu Örmeci

This review is a critical analysis of current freshwater and terrestrial research with an emphasis on transport, behaviour, fate and subsequent ecological impacts that plastic pollution poses. The current methods of extraction and evaluation of organic-rich samples are also explored for both micro- and nanoplastics. Furthermore, micro- and nanoplastics are discussed with reference to their environmental and health implications for biota. Regulations imposed on the manufacture and distribution of plastics globally are also noted. Within the review, the current literature has been presented and knowledge gaps identified. These include the characterization and quantification of micro- and nanoplastics entering and forming within the freshwater and terrestrial environment, the fate and behaviour of micro- and nanoplastics under varying conditions and the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.


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