Global Garbage Newsletter for February 8, 2016 Please note: the links to the download of the articles (PDF) will be activated only until the 15th of March. Cristina Pedà , Letteria Caccamo, Maria Cristina Fossi, Francesco Gai, Franco Andaloro, Lucrezia Genovese, Anna Perdichizzi, Teresa Romeo, Giulia Maricchiolo, Intestinal alterations in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to microplastics: Preliminary results, Environmental Pollution, Volume 212, May 2016, Pages 251-256, ISSN 0269-7491, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.01.083. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749116300835) Abstract: This study investigates, for the first time, the intestinal responses of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax chronically exposed to microplastics through ingestion. Fish (n = 162) were fed with 3 different treatment diets for 90 days: control, native polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polluted polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pellets. Intestines were fixed and processed for histological analysis using standard techniques. Histopathological alterations were examined using a score value (from 0 to 4). The distal part of intestine in all samples proved to be the most affected by pathological alterations, showing a gradual change varying from moderate to severe related to exposure times. The histological picture that characterizes both groups especially after 90 days of exposure, suggests that the intestinal functions can be in some cases totally compromised. The worst condition is increasingly evident in the distal intestine of fish fed with polluted PVC pellets respect to control groups (p These first results underline the need to assess the impact of increasing microplastics pollution on the marine trophic web. Keywords: Microplastics ingestion; European sea bass; Intestinal alterations; Histopathology http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0269749116300835.pdf Zacharias Steinmetz, Claudia Wollmann, Miriam Schaefer, Christian Buchmann, Jan David, Josephine Tröger, Katherine Muñoz, Oliver Frör, Gabriele Ellen Schaumann, Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 550, 15 April 2016, Pages 690-705, ISSN 0048-9697, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.153. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716301528) Abstract: Plastic mulching has become a globally applied agricultural practice for its instant economic benefits such as higher yields, earlier harvests, improved fruit quality and increased water-use efficiency. However, knowledge of the sustainability of plastic mulching remains vague in terms of both an environmental and agronomic perspective. This review critically discusses the current understanding of the environmental impact of plastic mulch use by linking knowledge of agricultural benefits and research on the life cycle of plastic mulches with direct and indirect implications for long-term soil quality and ecosystem services. Adverse effects may arise from plastic additives, enhanced pesticide runoff and plastic residues likely to fragment into microplastics but remaining chemically intact and accumulating in soil where they can successively sorb agrochemicals. The quantification of microplastics in soil remains challenging due to the lack of appropriate analytical techniques. The cost and effort of recovering and recycling used mulching films may offset the aforementioned benefits in the long term. However, comparative and long-term agronomic assessments have not yet been conducted. Furthermore, plastic mulches have the potential to alter soil quality by shifting the edaphic biocoenosis (e.g. towards mycotoxigenic fungi), accelerate C/N metabolism eventually depleting soil organic matter stocks, increase soil water repellency and favour the release of greenhouse gases. A substantial process understanding of the interactions between the soil microclimate, water supply and biological activity under plastic mulches is still lacking but required to estimate potential risks for long-term soil quality. Currently, farmers mostly base their decision to apply plastic mulches rather on expected short-term benefits than on the consideration of long-term consequences. Future interdisciplinary research should therefore gain a deeper understanding of the incentives for farmers and public perception from both a psychological and economic perspective in order to develop new support strategies for the transition into a more environment-friendly food production. Keywords: Plasticulture; Soil organic matter dynamics; Biodegradation; Microplastics; Ecosystem services; Ecological transformation http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0048969716301528.pdf Carme Alomar, Fernando Estarellas, Salud Deudero, Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea: Deposition in coastal shallow sediments, spatial variation and preferential grain size, Marine Environmental Research, Volume 115, April 2016, Pages 1-10, ISSN 0141-1136, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.01.005. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113616300058) Abstract: Marine litter loads in sea compartments are an emergent issue due to their ecological and biological consequences. This study addresses microplastic quantification and morphological description to test spatial differences along an anthropogenic gradient of coastal shallow sediments and further on to evaluate the preferential deposition of microplastics in a given sediment grain fraction. Sediments from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) contained the highest concentrations of microplastics (MPs): up to 0.90 ± 0.10 MPs/g suggesting the transfer of microplastics from source areas to endpoint areas. In addition, a high proportion of microplastic filaments were found close to populated areas whereas fragment type microplastics were more common in MPAs. There was no clear trend between sediment grain size and microplastic deposition in sediments, although microplastics were always present in two grain size fractions: 2 mm > x > 1 mm and 1 mm > x 0.5 mm. Keywords: Marine litter; MPAs; Anthropogenic gradient; Sieve fractions; Contamination; Balearic islands http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0141113616300058.pdf A. Soares-Gomes, B.A.P. da Gama, J.A. Baptista Neto, D.G. Freire, R.C. Cordeiro, W. Machado, M.C. Bernardes, R. Coutinho, F. Thompson, R.C. Pereira, An environmental overview of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Regional Studies in Marine Science, Available online 4 February 2016, ISSN 2352-4855, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2016.01.009. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352485516300111) Abstract: As most port areas throughout the world, Guanabara Bay (GB), which hosts the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro (HRJ), is under intense environmental stress. Located in one of the most iconic places of the world, GB environmental status has been the focus of worldwide attention with the imminent 2016 Olympic Games. The aim of this study was to discuss all past and current relevant aspects to characterize the environment of GB and its main harbour, including geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, geography and biodiversity aspects. A historical view of the social and economic setting, as well as the major threats to the bay environment such as increased pollution, sedimentation, marine debris, cultural eutrophication, bioinvasions, resource utilization, climate change and habitat loss are discussed. Aiming to identify–and possibly manage–the threats to biodiversity in harbour areas, a case study comparing the HRJ with the nearby Arraial do Cabo harbour was included. At last, conclusions were drawn so as to highlight effective measures to reduce the environmental degradation of the bay and the harbour. Keywords: Guanabara Bay; Estuary; Pollution; Bioinvasion; Biodiversity Note to users: Accepted manuscripts are Articles in Press that have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of this publication. They have not yet been copy edited and/or formatted in the publication house style, and may not yet have the full ScienceDirect functionality, e.g., supplementary files may still need to be added, links to references may not resolve yet etc. The text could still change before final publication. Although accepted manuscripts do not have all bibliographic details available yet, they can already be cited using the year of online publication and the DOI, as follows: author(s), article title, Publication (year), DOI. Please consult the journal's reference style for the exact appearance of these elements, abbreviation of journal names and use of punctuation. When the final article is assigned to volumes/issues of the Publication, the Article in Press version will be removed and the final version will appear in the associated published volumes/issues of the Publication. The date the article was first made available online will be carried over. http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S2352485516300111_In_Press_Accepted_Manuscript.pdfhttp://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/01/25/1519019113.abstract Rossana Sussarellu, Marc Suquet, Yoann Thomas, Christophe Lambert, Caroline Fabioux, Marie Eve Julie Pernet, Nelly Le Goïc, Virgile Quillien, Christian Mingant, Yanouk Epelboin, Charlotte Corporeau, Julien Guyomarch, Johan Robbens, Ika Paul-Pont, Philippe Soudant, and Arnaud Huvet Oyster reproduction is affected by exposure to polystyrene microplastics PNAS 2016 ; published ahead of print February 1, 2016, doi:10.1073/pnas.1519019113 Abstract Plastics are persistent synthetic polymers that accumulate as waste in the marine environment. Microplastic (MP) particles are derived from the breakdown of larger debris or can enter the environment as microscopic fragments. Because filter-feeder organisms ingest MP while feeding, they are likely to be impacted by MP pollution. To assess the impact of polystyrene microspheres (micro-PS) on the physiology of the Pacific oyster, adult oysters were experimentally exposed to virgin micro-PS (2 and 6 µm in diameter; 0.023 mg·L−1) for 2 mo during a reproductive cycle. Effects were investigated on ecophysiological parameters; cellular, transcriptomic, and proteomic responses; fecundity; and offspring development. Oysters preferentially ingested the 6-µm micro-PS over the 2-µm-diameter particles. Consumption of microalgae and absorption efficiency were significantly higher in exposed oysters, suggesting compensatory and physical effects on both digestive parameters. After 2 mo, exposed oysters had significant decreases in oocyte number (−38%), diameter (−5%), and sperm velocity (−23%). The D-larval yield and larval development of offspring derived from exposed parents decreased by 41% and 18%, respectively, compared with control offspring. Dynamic energy budget modeling, supported by transcriptomic profiles, suggested a significant shift of energy allocation from reproduction to structural growth, and elevated maintenance costs in exposed oysters, which is thought to be caused by interference with energy uptake. Molecular signatures of endocrine disruption were also revealed, but no endocrine disruptors were found in the biological samples. This study provides evidence that micro-PS cause feeding modifications and reproductive disruption in oysters, with significant impacts on offspring. microplastic | reproduction | energy allocation | oyster http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/1519019113_Early_Edition.pdfhttp://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/01/25/1519019113/suppl/DCSupplemental Oyster reproduction is affected by exposure to polystyrene microplastics Supporting Information Download Supporting Information (PDF) Download Dataset_S01 (XLS) Download Dataset_S02 (XLS) Download Dataset_S03 (XLS) http://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2016/01/26/1519019113.DCSupplemental/pnas.201519019SI.pdfhttp://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2016/01/26/1519019113.DCSupplemental/pnas.1519019113.sd01.xlshttp://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2016/01/26/1519019113.DCSupplemental/pnas.1519019113.sd02.xlshttp://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2016/01/26/1519019113.DCSupplemental/pnas.1519019113.sd03.xls Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin N. Waters, Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Patricia L. Corcoran, Anthony D. Barnosky, Alejandro Cearreta, Matt Edgeworth, Agnieszka GaÅ‚uszka, Catherine Jeandel, Reinhold Leinfelder, J.R. McNeill, Will Steffen, Colin Summerhayes, Michael Wagreich, Mark Williams, Alexander P. Wolfe, Yasmin Yonan, The geological cycle of plastics and their use as a stratigraphic indicator of the Anthropocene, Anthropocene, Available online 18 January 2016, ISSN 2213-3054, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2016.01.002. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213305416300029) Abstract: The rise of plastics since the mid-20th century, both as a material element of modern life and as a growing environmental pollutant, has been widely described. Their distribution in both the terrestrial and marine realms suggests that they are a key geological indicator of the Anthropocene, as a distinctive stratal component. Most immediately evident in terrestrial deposits, they are clearly becoming widespread in marine sedimentary deposits in both shallow- and deep-water settings. They are abundant and widespread as macroscopic fragments and virtually ubiquitous as microplastic particles; these are dispersed by both physical and biological processes, not least via the food chain and the ‘faecal express’ route from surface to sea floor. Plastics are already widely dispersed in sedimentary deposits, and their amount seems likely to grow several-fold over the next few decades. They will continue to be input into the sedimentary cycle over coming millennia as temporary stores – landfill sites – are eroded. Plastics already enable fine time resolution within Anthropocene deposits via the development of their different types and via the artefacts (‘technofossils’) they are moulded into, and many of these may have long-term preservation potential when buried in strata. Keywords: Anthropocene; Plastics; Stratigraphy Note to users: Corrected proofs are Articles in Press that contain the authors' corrections. Final citation details, e.g., volume and/or issue number, publication year and page numbers, still need to be added and the text might change before final publication. Although corrected proofs do not have all bibliographic details available yet, they can already be cited using the year of online publication and the DOI , as follows: author(s), article title, Publication (year), DOI. Please consult the journal's reference style for the exact appearance of these elements, abbreviation of journal names and use of punctuation. When the final article is assigned to volumes/issues of the Publication, the Article in Press version will be removed and the final version will appear in the associated published volumes/issues of the Publication. The date the article was first made available online will be carried over. http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S2213305416300029_In_Press_Corrected_Proof.pdf Milena Maria Sampaio de Araujo, Adalberto Menezes Filho, Iracema Andrade Nascimento, Pedro Afonso P. Pereira, Lightsticks content toxicity: Effects of the water soluble fraction on the oyster embryonic development, Chemosphere, Volume 139, November 2015, Pages 73-80, ISSN 0045-6535, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.05.058. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653515005214) Abstract: Lightsticks are artifacts used as attractors in a type of commercial fishery, known as surface longline gear. Despite the excessive use, the contamination risks of these devices have not yet been properly investigated. This research aimed to fill up this gap by determining the chemical composition and the toxicity of lightsticks recently activated, compared to those one year after activation and to the ones collected on the beaches. The analyzes were carried out by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Additionally, the variations in composition and the toxicity of their sea Water Soluble Fractions (WSF) were evaluated based on the WSF-effects of Crassostrea rhizophorae embryonic development. The GC–MS analysis made possible the identification of nineteen substances in the water soluble fraction of the lightsticks, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP). The value of the WSF-effective concentration (EC50) was in an average of 0.35%. After one year of the lightsticks activation, the toxicity was even higher (0.65%). Furthermore, other substances, also present in the lightsticks-WSF caused persistent toxicity even more dangerous to the environment than DBP and DMP. This essay discusses their toxicity effects and possible environment damages. Keywords: Lightsticks; Chemical content; Toxicity tests; Crassostrea rhizophorae embryos http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S0045653515005214.pdf *** To be removed from the Mailing List, send an email to MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org">MailingList@globalgarbage.org with the subject REMOVE. 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