Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in laver from the Yueqing Bay

Qikun Yang; Lukuo Ma; Kecheng Qiu; Zhihua Feng; Youji Wang; Zhen Zhong; Fangping Cheng; Tianqi Zhai; Jiangning Zeng; Wei Huang

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106258

Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in laver from the Yueqing Bay

Mar Environ Res. 2024 Jan:193:106258. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106258. Epub 2023 Nov 11.

Authors

Qikun Yang¹, Lukuo Ma¹, Kecheng Qiu², Zhihua Feng³, Youji Wang⁴, Zhen Zhong⁵, Fangping Cheng¹, Tianqi Zhai⁶, Jiangning Zeng⁷, Wei Huang⁸

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China.
² Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China.
³ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China. Electronic address: youjiwang2@gmail.com.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: willhuang@sio.org.cn.

PMID: 37989678
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106258

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is regarded as a global challenge for ocean. As an important food source of human, macroalgae could suffer MP pollution and transmit MPs into human via food web. However, few studies have revealed the relationship of MP pollution between macroalgae and its habitat. In order to evaluate the trapping and accumulation of MPs in macroalgae and surface water, the present study investigated MP pollution in a typical aquaculture macroalgae species, laver (Porphyra haitanensis) in the Yueqing Bay. The results indicated MP abundance in laver (1.45 ± 0.26 items/g) was at a medium level while MP abundance in surface water (0.21 ± 0.15 item/m³) was at a relatively low level worldwide. Distribution trend and characteristics of MPs in laver and surface water showed highly similarity. Besides, heavy metal elements (Fe and Zr) were detected on the surface of MPs trapped by laver. Pollution load index (PLI) in surface water of the whole bay was low, indicating MP pollution was not serious in the Yueqing Bay. Due to the discharging of domestic sewage in recent years, fiber-shaped, textile MPs accounted for most in laver and surface water of the Yueqing Bay. These results indicated that MPs in surface water could be trapped by P. haitanensis, thus macroalgae cultivation might be a potential way to alleviate seawater MP pollution in the nearshore areas.

Keywords: Macroalgae; Microplastics; Porphyra haitanensis; Risk assessment; Trapping mechanism.

MeSH terms

Bays
Environmental Monitoring
Microplastics
Plastics
Risk Assessment
Seaweed*
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical

Supplementary concepts

Nori and laver red algae