We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Microplastic Pollutants on Nematodes and Their Biodiversity in Irish River Sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics from commercial cosmetics were characterized by ATR-FTIR, and a nematode study of Irish river sediments examined how these MP characteristics relate to nematode biodiversity, finding MPs altered nematode community structure in contaminated sediment zones.
Microplastics (MP), defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm, pose a significant global environmental threat, particularly in aquatic ecosystems, due to their persistence and potential harmful effects on wildlife and human health. They can absorb persistent organic pollutants (POP) like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), raising concerns about their impact on biota. To elucidate this, the present study employed attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to analyse the characteristics of MP sourced from commercial cosmetics. It also utilised nematodes, which are widely accepted indicators of environmental change. Indeed, despite the known risks of MP in aquatic habitats, knowledge of their effects on free-living and beneficial nematodes is limited. This study investigated the toxicity of MP on Caenorhabditis elegans and two entomopathogenic nematode species, Steinernema feltiae (the enviroCORE strain SB12[1]) and Steinernema carpocapsae (a commercial strain from e-NEMA) in laboratory bioassays. Nematodes were exposed to various concentrations of MP and other pollutants in controlled settings over 72 to 96 hours. Additionally, high-throughput 18S rDNA sequencing was used to analyse nematode biodiversity in sediments from the River Barrow (RB) in SE Ireland. Results revealed that MP adversely affected nematode survival and community structure, highlighting the ecological risks posed by MP pollution in river sediments and emphasizing the need for further research into the health of benthic ecosystems in Ireland.
More Papers Like This
Occurrence of Microplastics in the Sediments of an Irish River and Their Effects on Nematode Survival and Biodiversity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in sediments from an Irish river and tested their effects on nematode survival and biodiversity. Using infrared spectroscopy, they characterized the types and concentrations of microplastics present, with particular concern about their ability to absorb persistent organic pollutants. The study found that microplastic exposure affected nematode populations, suggesting potential broader impacts on freshwater sediment ecosystems.
The accumulation of microplastic pollution in a commercially important fishing ground
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in sediments of the Irish Sea fishing grounds used for Norway lobster harvesting, identifying seven polymer types via micro-FTIR spectroscopy and finding persistent contamination at all sampled sites across both 2016 and 2019 surveys.
Comparison of μ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and py-GCMS as identification tools for microplastic particles and fibers isolated from river sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared two identification methods — micro-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC-MS — for characterizing microplastics extracted from river sediments, finding that the methods generally agreed on dominant polymers but differed in sensitivity to certain types. The comparison provides practical guidance for choosing analytical methods in freshwater microplastic monitoring programs.
Assessment of microplastics in Irish river sediment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments from 16 sites along the River Barrow in Ireland, detecting plastics at all sites with fibers as the dominant shape and polyethylene terephthalate as a common polymer, confirming widespread freshwater microplastic pollution in Irish river systems.
Automated μFTIR Imaging Demonstrates Taxon-Specific and Selective Uptake of Microplastic by Freshwater Invertebrates
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used automated micro-FTIR imaging to quantify microplastic ingestion by multiple freshwater invertebrate taxa from field-collected sediments, finding taxon-specific differences in ingestion rates and selectivity for particle type and size, suggesting that feeding behavior mediates microplastic exposure.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.