Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology最新文献

Microplastics (MPs), an emerging environmental pollutant, have been found in inland waters with increasing frequency, directly affecting human health and ecological security. However, the abundance and contamination risks of MPs in inland waters remain insufficiently understood. This study systematically investigated the occurrence of MPs in the surface layer of Luoma Lake and its inflow/outflow rivers by conducting field sampling. It estimated the environmental risks of MPs using a combination of the pollution load index (PLI), the polymer hazard index (PHI), and the potential ecological risk index (PERI). MPs were found in all samples, ranging from 3.2 to 12.2 particles/L (average 7.1 particles/L). A total of 10 color types were detected, of which white (23.4%) and transparent (21.1%) were the main color types. The most common dimension was below 100 μm (68.5%), while the predominant shapes were debris (37.1%) and granular (35.3%). The prevalent polymers were terephthalate polyethylene (PET, 34.1%) and polyethylene (PE, 27.5%). Based on PLI, PHI and PERI analysis, the Luoma lake and its inflow/outflow rivers exhibited a low MPs pollution load (level I), a middle polymer hazard (level II), and a low potential ecological risk level (level I), respectively. The findings improve understanding of the ecological risks of MPs pollution in Luoma lake, providing basic data and technique reference for the MPs pollution control and the protection of drinking-water sources.

This study investigates microplastic content in 79 personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs)-shampoos, shower gels, peeling gels, and toothpastes-from various commercial brands in Türkiye, each analyzed through multiple extractions. Microplastics were identified using stereomicroscopy, Nile Red staining for fluorescence-based screening, and confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Shower gels contained the highest levels, while no microplastics were detected in toothpastes. Two types of microplastics -fibers and microbeads- were found, with fibers most common in shower gels (46%), followed by peeling gels (40%) and shampoos (14%). Polyethylene-based microbeads appeared only in one shower gel brand. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between product types (p < 0.05). FTIR analysis revealed that bead-like particles in peeling gels and toothpastes were primarily silica- or cellulose-based. Findings suggest a declining trend in plastic microbeads, possibly influenced by global awareness and policy changes. The study highlights the lack of standardized methodologies in PCCP microplastic research and calls for harmonized international regulations to reduce environmental contamination and ecological risks.

Rapid scale-up and intensification of the livestock and poultry industry generates large amounts of manure contributing to pollution and posing a potential threat to the environment. The spatiotemporal characteristics of livestock and poultry manure (LPM) pollution in Hunan Province, China, were analyzed using statistical analysis and GIS technology. The analysis indicated that the proportion of pig manure was much higher than that of other livestock and poultry species from 2006 to 2020, reaching 41-52%. As such, pollution from pig breeding remains the focus of livestock and poultry pollution control in Hunan Province. Compared to 2010 and 2015, the agricultural land load of LPM in Hunan Province improved by 2020, with LPM posing a slight threat to the environment in the cities of Hengyang, Yongzhou, and Loudi, but not in other cities and prefecture. From 2006 to 2020, the TN and TP contents in LPM showed an increasing trend, while the chemical oxygen demand (CODcr), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) fluctuated with annual changes in pig numbers in Hunan Province. The risk of nitrogen and carbon pollution from LPM remains low in most cities. There was a moderate and high risk of phosphorus pollution in Changde and Shaoyang Cities, and in Hengyang, Yongzhou and Loudi Cities, respectively, while most of the other areas were at slight risk. Structural adjustments and spatial optimization of livestock and poultry breeding could help reduce the impact of LPM on the environment.