Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea

Chen, Qiqi1; Ge, Xinyu2; Xu, Feng1; Li, Jiawei2; Xu, Zhe2; Liu, Lili1; Tang, Yuanyuan2

2024-12-01

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176405

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT   影响因子和分区

0048-9697

1879-1026

Microplastics (MPs) contamination in marine environment has been an emerging issue worldwide, notably due to the potential ecological risks of MPs with co-existing environmental contaminants and released toxic plastic additives. To verify the co-occurrence characteristics of MPs and co-existing pollutants in the benthic boundary layer (BBL), the distribution characteristics of MPs, and selected heavy metals (HMs) and halogenated flame retardants (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs, and Dechlorane Plus) in the bottom water and sediment were comprehensively investigated in the East China Sea (ECS). The sampling sites were selected along the coast of ECS, where might be significantly affected by terrigenous inputs and anthropogenic sources. MPs were abundant in the bottom water (62.8-480.2 items/L) and sediment (80.1-1346.7 items/kg d.w.) with polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene being as the most abundant types and characterized as fiber/line, particle size 200-500 mu m, and transparent/white. The abundance and characteristics of MPs demonstrated strong correlations within the bottom water and sediment, which might be due to the frequent exchange of materials. In addition, the abundance of MPs was significantly positively correlated with HMs (Cd, Cr, Pb) in the bottom water and PBDEs in sediment, respectively. According to the scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis, MPs might act as carriers to transport and co-sediment the co-existing pollutants in water, and physically adsorb or chemically bind with pollutants in sediment. These results could help to elucidate the sources, migration, and fate, and verify the occurrence and potential risks of MPs and their co-existing pollutants in BBL, thus realize the management and control of MPs contamination in marine.

Microplastics Benthic boundary layer Heavy metals Halogenated flame retardants

SCI

英语

通讯

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Environmental Sciences

WOS:001322691400001

ELSEVIER

Web of Science

1.East China Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Resource & Environm Engn, State Environm Protect Key Lab Environm Risk Asses, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Guangdong Prov Key Lab Soil & Groundwater Pollut C, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Chen, Qiqi,Ge, Xinyu,Xu, Feng,et al. Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea[J]. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,2024,954.

Chen, Qiqi.,Ge, Xinyu.,Xu, Feng.,Li, Jiawei.,Xu, Zhe.,...&Tang, Yuanyuan.(2024).Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea.SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,954.

Chen, Qiqi,et al."Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea".SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 954(2024).