object of research organic Archives - One Earth - One Ocean e. V.

Enhanced desorption of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated physiological conditions

guenther — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:18:19 +0000

Adil Bakir, Steven J. Rowland, Richard C. Thompson, Enhanced desorption 
of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated 
physiological conditions, Environmental Pollution, Volume 185, February 
2014, Pages 16-23, ISSN 0269-7491, 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.007.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749113005277)
Abstract: Microplastics have the potential to uptake and release 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs); however, subsequent transfer to 
marine organisms is poorly understood. Some models estimating transfer 
of sorbed contaminants to organisms neglect the role of gut surfactants 
under differing physiological conditions in the gut (varying pH and 
temperature), examined here. We investigated the potential for 
polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) to sorb and desorb 
14C-DDT, 14C-phenanthrene (Phe), 14C-perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 
14C-di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Desorption rates of POPs were 
quantified in seawater and under simulated gut conditions. Influence of 
pH and temperature was examined in order to represent cold and warm 
blooded organisms. Desorption rates were faster with gut surfactant, 
with a further substantial increase under conditions simulating warm 
blooded organisms. Desorption under gut conditions could be up to 30 
times greater than in seawater alone. Of the POP/plastic combinations 
examined Phe with PE gave the highest potential for transport to organisms.

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Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by marine bacteria from pelagic waters, Arabian Sea, India

guenther — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 21:04:37 +0000

Kumar Harshvardhan, Bhavanath Jha, Biodegradation of low-density 
polyethylene by marine bacteria from pelagic waters, Arabian Sea, India, 
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 7 November 2013, ISSN 
0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.10.025.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13006462)
Abstract: Sixty marine bacteria isolated from pelagic waters were 
screened for their ability to degrade low-density polyethylene; among 
them, three were positive and able to grow in a medium containing 
polythene as the sole carbon source. The positive isolates were 
identified as Kocuria palustris M16, Bacillus pumilus M27 and Bacillus 
subtilis H1584 based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence homology. The weight 
loss of polyethylene was 1%, 1.5% and 1.75% after 30 days of incubation 
with the M16, M27 and H1584 isolates, respectively. The maximum (32%) 
cell surface hydrophobicity was observed in M16, followed by the H1584 
and M27 isolates. The viability of the isolates growing on the 
polyethylene surface was confirmed using a triphenyltetrazolium chloride 
reduction test. The viability was also correlated with a concomitant 
increase in the protein density of the biomass. Polyethylene 
biodegradation was further confirmed by an increase in the Keto Carbonyl 
Bond Index, the Ester Carbonyl Bond Index and the Vinyl Bond Index, 
which were calculated from FT-IR spectra.

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Gooseneck barnacles ingest microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

guenther — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:18:41 +0000

Goldstein MC, Goodwin DS. (2013) Gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.) ingest 
microplastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. PeerJ 1:e184 
http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.184

Abstract
Substantial quantities of small plastic particles, termed 
“microplastic,” have been found in many areas of the world ocean, and 
have accumulated in particularly high densities on the surface of the 
subtropical gyres. While plastic debris has been documented on the 
surface of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) since the early 
1970s, the ecological implications remain poorly understood. Organisms 
associated with floating objects, termed the “rafting assemblage,” are 
an important component of the NPSG ecosystem. These objects are often 
dominated by abundant and fast-growing gooseneck barnacles (Lepas spp.), 
which predate on plankton and larval fishes at the sea surface. To 
assess the potential effects of microplastic on the rafting community, 
we examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 385 barnacles collected from 
the NPSG for evidence of plastic ingestion. We found that 33.5% of the 
barnacles had plastic particles present in their gastrointestinal tract, 
ranging from one plastic particle to a maximum of 30 particles. Particle 
ingestion was positively correlated to capitulum length, and no blockage 
of the stomach or intestines was observed. The majority of ingested 
plastic was polyethylene, with polypropylene and polystyrene also 
present. Our results suggest that barnacle ingestion of microplastic is 
relatively common, with unknown trophic impacts on the rafting community 
and the NPSG ecosystem.

https://peerj.com/articles/184.pdf

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