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► Short-tailed shearwaters were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). ► BDE209 and BDE183 were detected in abdominal adipose of 3 of 12 seabirds. ► Plastics in the ...stomachs of the 3 seabirds contained BDE209 and BDE183. ► BDE209 and BDE183 were not detected in natural prey of the shearwaters. ► Transfer of plastic-derived chemicals (BDE209 and BDE183) was suggested.
We analyzed polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in abdominal adipose of oceanic seabirds (short-tailed shearwaters, Puffinus tenuirostris) collected in northern North Pacific Ocean. In 3 of 12 birds, we detected higher-brominated congeners (viz., BDE209 and BDE183), which are not present in the natural prey (pelagic fish) of the birds. The same compounds were present in plastic found in the stomachs of the 3 birds. These data suggested the transfer of plastic-derived chemicals from ingested plastics to the tissues of marine-based organisms.
Our previous study suggested the transfer of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants from ingested plastics to seabirds’ tissues. To understand how the PBDEs are transferred, we studied ...leaching from plastics into digestive fluids. We hypothesized that stomach oil, which is present in the digestive tract of birds in the order Procellariiformes, acts as an organic solvent, facilitating the leaching of hydrophobic chemicals. Pieces of plastic compounded with deca-BDE were soaked in several leaching solutions. Trace amounts were leached into distilled water, seawater, and acidic pepsin solution. In contrast, over 20 times as much material was leached into stomach oil, and over 50 times as much into fish oil (a major component of stomach oil). Analysis of abdominal adipose, liver tissue, and ingested plastics from 18 wild seabirds collected from the North Pacific Ocean showed the occurrence of deca-BDE or hexa-BDEs in both the tissues and the ingested plastics in three of the birds, suggesting transfer from the plastic to the tissues. In birds with BDE209 in their tissues, the dominance of BDE207 over other nona-BDE isomers suggested biological debromination at the meta position. Model calculation of PBDE exposure to birds based on the results of the leaching experiments combined with field observations suggested the dominance of plastic-mediated internal exposure to BDE209 over exposure via prey.
On 10 August 2021, a face mask (14 cm × 9 cm) was found in the feces of a juvenile green turtle, by-caught alive in a set net off the northeast coast of Japan. Although sea turtles have been ...monitored in this region over the last 15 years (n = 76), face masks had never been found before the Covid-19 pandemic and this is the first detection. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy identified the mask as polypropylene. Estrogenic active benzotriazole-type UV stabilizers such as UV329 were detected in commercially available polypropylene face masks. Exposure of marine organisms ingesting plastics to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and physical injury are of concern. This study indicates that changes in human life in the pandemic are beginning to affect marine life. Precautionary actions including establishment of appropriate waste management of personal protective equipment and use of safe additives are urgently needed.
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•A face mask was found in the feces of a juvenile green sea turtle in August 2021.•Before the pandemic, no face mask was found during 15-year-survey in this region.•This mask was identified as polypropylene which means common disposable face mask.•Endocrine-disrupting UV stabilizers were detected in face masks on the market.•Changes in human life during the pandemic might now be affecting marine life.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and hopanes were analyzed in plastic resin pellets collected from 19 locations along the Persian Gulf coastline. PCBs were ...high at locations near industrial areas, where their concentrations (sum of 13 congeners, 54–624 ng/g-pellet) were higher than those in rural coastal towns, which were close to global background levels (<10 ng/g-pellet). PAH concentrations (sum of 27 PAH species) varied from 273 to 15,786 ng/g-pellet and were highest in industrial cities (Bushehr and Bandar Abbas), with a petrogenic signature at most locations, possibly due to the petroleum-based industries, refineries, and tankers. These levels were placed in the extremely polluted category on a global basis. The distribution of hopanes was relatively homogeneous, and their range of concentrations was 8048–59,778 ng/g-pellet. This range had a positive correlation with PAH concentrations. The PAH and hopane results emphasize the ubiquity of petroleum pollution in the Persian Gulf.
•High levels of PCBs were observed in industrial areas, e.g., Bandar Abbas.•PAHs with petrogenic signature were spread on Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf.•World high levels of PAHs were observed at locations near Strait of Hormuz.•Predominance of petrogenic PAHs originated mostly from petroleum-based industries.•Hopanes were ubiquitously detected with homogeneous distribution in Persian Gulf.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known to be broken down by debromination reactions in the natural environment, such as by photolysis, microbial and metabolic processes. Although ...species-specific debromination of PBDEs by fish has also been reported, it has only rarely been studied from the phylogenetic perspective. The objective of this study is to reveal the factors affecting species-specific debromination through validation between the bioaccumulation of PBDEs in muscle tissue and the ability to debrominate BDE99. As environmental observations, PBDE concentrations in muscle tissues were analyzed in 25 wild fish (Cyprinidae, Gobiidae and others). As in vitro experiments, debromination experiments were conducted using the hepatic microsomes of 21 fish species. Significant amounts of BDE99 were detected in almost none of the Cyprinidae. A relatively higher debromination ability was confirmed in the Cyprinidae in in vitro experiments. The Cyprinidae thus appears to be a family with high debromination ability. BDE99 has been detected in some goby species but not others. This pattern was also seen in in vitro experiments, suggesting that debromination ability is not consistent within the Gobiidae. In further quantitative comparisons, kinetic parameters such as Km and vmax were determined for selected fish species. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and the Japanese crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri), both Cyprinidae, showed higher vmax values, whereas vmax values among three Gobiidae diverged widely. A comparison of field observations and in vitro experiments, revealed the bioaccumulation ratio of BDE99 to be affected by the BDE99 debromination ability of each fish species. This is the first report on classification of BDE99 accumulation ratio by debromination ability and a phylogenetic species comparison based on kinetic parameters for debromination reactions of PBDEs by fish.
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•Comparison of PBDE accumulation in fish muscle and BDE99 debromination ability using hepatic microsomes•Most Cyprinidae did not accumulate BDE99, indicating a higher BDE99 debromination rate over the entire family.•In Gobiidae, bioaccumulation patterns and debromination ability varied widely according to species.•This study revealed phylogenetic diversity and conservation of debromination ability.
Although the debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish species has been studied, environmental factors, such as chemical contamination and habitat temperature, have not been ...well understood. This study compared debromination of BDE209 by hepatic microsomes of wild and cultured fish. PBDE concentrations in muscle tissue were lower in cultured fish than in wild fish. Debromination activity was high in wild common carp, followed by cultured common carp, moderate in cultured ayu sweetfish, and low in two cultured fish (rainbow trout and cherry salmon) and wild Japanese sea bass. Although common carps have been known as the species which have higher debromination ability, there were differences between wild and cultured common carps. First, wild common carp debrominated much more BDE209 than cultured common carp. Second was debromination of BDE209 lasted 96 h in wild carp but only 24 h in cultured carp. Wild carp were collected from warm wastewater effluent with consistently high concentrations of micropollutants. Cultured carp were collected from colder clean waters. Therefore, environmental factors in debromination include contamination or ambient temperature. To investigate the effects of habitat environment on debromination of PBDEs, we collected wild carp in summer and winter at two different locations with similar PBDE contamination levels. Carp collected from the natural river in winter had the highest BDE99 debromination activity. Although the results indicated seasonal difference of debromination of BDE209, we could not confirm whether habitat temperature or physiological cycle of carp affected to debromination ability. Thus, further investigation such as in vivo experiment is required.
► Plastic fragments from the open ocean and remote and urban beaches were analyzed. ► PCBs, PAHs, DDTs, PBDEs, NP, BPA concentrations ranges from 1 to 10,000ng/g. ► Concentrations showed large ...piece-to-piece variability. ► Hydrophobic organic compounds were sorbed from seawater. ► NP, BPA, and PBDEs came mainly from additives and were detected even in open ocean.
To understand the spatial variation in concentrations and compositions of organic micropollutants in marine plastic debris and their sources, we analyzed plastic fragments (∼10mm) from the open ocean and from remote and urban beaches. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alkylphenols and bisphenol A were detected in the fragments at concentrations from 1 to 10,000ng/g. Concentrations showed large piece-to-piece variability. Hydrophobic organic compounds such as PCBs and PAHs were sorbed from seawater to the plastic fragments. PCBs are most probably derived from legacy pollution. PAHs showed a petrogenic signature, suggesting the sorption of PAHs from oil slicks. Nonylphenol, bisphenol A, and PBDEs came mainly from additives and were detected at high concentrations in some fragments both from remote and urban beaches and the open ocean.
Water systems in Southeast Asia accumulate antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from multiple origins, notably including human clinics and animal farms. To ascertain the fate of ...antibiotics and ARGs in natural water environments, we monitored the concentrations of these items in Thailand. Here, we show high concentrations of tetracyclines (72,156.9 ng/L) and lincomycin (23,968.0 ng/L) in pig farms, followed by nalidixic acid in city canals. The city canals and rivers contained diverse distributions of antibiotics and ARGs. Assessments of targeted ARGs, including sul1, sul2, sul3, and tet(M), showed that freshwater (pig farm wastewater, rivers, and canals) consistently contained these ARGs, but these genes were less abundant in seawater. Although sulfonamides were low concentrations (<170 ng/mL), sul1 and sul2 genes were abundant in freshwater (minimum 4.4 × 10−3–maximum 1.0 × 100 copies/16S), suggesting that sul genes have disseminated over a long period, despite cessation of use of this class of antibiotics. Ubiquitous distribution of sul genes in freshwater appeared to be independent of selection pressure. In contrast, water of the coastal sea in the monitored area was not contaminated by these antibiotics or ARGs. The density of Enterobacteriales was lower in seawater than in freshwater, suggesting that the number of ARG-possessing Enterobacteriales falls after entering seawater. From the pig farms, through rivers/canals, to the coastal sea, the occurrence of tetracyclines and tet(M) exhibited some correlation, although not a strong one. However, no correlations were found between concentrations of total antibiotics and ARGs, nor between sulfonamides and sul genes. This is the first comprehensive study showing Thai features of antibiotics and ARGs contaminations. The pig farm is hot spot of antibiotics and ARGs, and sul genes ubiquitously distribute in freshwater environments, which become less abundant in seawater.
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•Pig farms were hot spot of antibiotics and the resistance genes (ARGs).•City canals and rivers contained diverse antibiotics and ARGs.•Antibiotics and ARGs from land decreased in the sea.•sul genes have been persisting under low selective pressure in freshwater.
to mg l, Plastics debris in the marine environment, including resin pellets, fragments and microscopic plastic fragments, contain organic
contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum hydrocarbons, organochlorine
pesticides (2,2′-bis(, to µg g, and were correlated with the level of economic development., chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane, hexachlorinated hexanes), polybrominated diphenylethers, alkylphenols and bisphenol A,
at concentrations from sub ng g, . Some of these compounds are added during plastics manufacture, while others adsorb from the surrounding seawater. Concentrations
of hydrophobic contaminants adsorbed on plastics showed distinct spatial variations reflecting global pollution patterns.
Model calculations and experimental observations consistently show that polyethylene accumulates more organic contaminants
than other plastics such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. Both a mathematical model using equilibrium partitioning
and experimental data have demonstrated the transfer of contaminants from plastic to organisms. A feeding experiment indicated
that PCBs could transfer from contaminated plastics to streaked shearwater chicks. Plasticizers, other plastics additives
and constitutional monomers also present potential threats in terrestrial environments because they can leach from waste disposal
sites into groundwater and/or surface waters. Leaching and degradation of plasticizers and polymers are complex phenomena
dependent on environmental conditions in the landfill and the chemical properties of each additive. Bisphenol A concentrations
in leachates from municipal waste disposal sites in tropical Asia ranged from sub µg l
Plastic litter containing additives is potentially a major source of chemical contamination in remote areas. We investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and microplastics in crustaceans ...and sand from beaches with high and low litter volumes on remote islands that were relatively free of other anthropogenic contaminants. Significant numbers of microplastics in the digestive tracts, and sporadically higher concentrations of rare congeners of PBDEs in the hepatopancreases were observed in coenobitid hermit crabs from the polluted beaches than in those from the control beaches. PBDEs and microplastics were detected in high amounts in one contaminated beach sand sample, but not in other beaches. Using BDE209 exposure experiments, similar debrominated products of BDE209 in field samples were detected in the hermit crabs. The results showed that when hermit crabs ingest microplastics containing BDE209, BDE209 leaches out and migrates to other tissues where it is metabolized.
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•PBDEs and microplastics in crustaceans on remote but littered beaches were analyzed.•Microplastics were detected in the gut of hermit crabs from contaminated beaches.•Many kinds of unusual PBDEs were also detected in hermit crab tissue.•Exposure experiments revealed these congeners to be metabolites of BDE209.
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