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Microplastics in urban New Jersey freshwaters: distribution, chemical identification, and biological affects

AIMS environmental science 2017 35 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Beth Ravit, Davey L. Jones Ashok D. Deshpande, Beth Ravit, Beth Ravit, Beth Ravit, Beth Ravit, Keith R. Cooper, Keith R. Cooper, Keith R. Cooper, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Beth Ravit, G. Moreno, G. Moreno, Davey L. Jones Betty A. Buckley, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Betty A. Buckley, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Betty A. Buckley, Davey L. Jones Betty A. Buckley, Ill Yang, Ashok D. Deshpande, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Ashok D. Deshpande, Ashok D. Deshpande, Ill Yang, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Ashok D. Deshpande, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Shirlee M. Meola, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Shirlee M. Meola, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones A. Hsieh, Ashok D. Deshpande, A. Hsieh, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones 6 NY/NJ Baykeeper, 52 W. Front St., Keyport, NJ, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones

Summary

Researchers characterized microplastics in the heavily urbanized Raritan and Passaic Rivers in New Jersey, identifying polymer types at 15 sites using pyrolysis-GC/MS and finding that associated organic compounds can transfer between plastic and water phases, with embryonic zebrafish exposed to identified polymers showing physiological effects.

Body Systems

Cardiovascular

Models

Zebrafish

This proof of concept study was undertaken to test methodologies to characterize potential environmental risk associated with the presence of microplastics in surface waters. The goals of the study were to determine whether urban New Jersey freshwaters contained microplastic pollutants, and if so, to test analytic techniques that could potentially identify chemical compounds associated with this pollution. A third objective was to test whether identified associated compounds might have physiological effects on an aquatic organism. Using field collected microplastic samples obtained from the heavily urbanized Raritan and Passaic Rivers in New Jersey, microplastic densities, types, and sizes at 15 sampling locations were determined. Three types of plastic polymers were identified using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography (Pyr-GC/MS). Samples were further characterized using solid phase micro extraction coupled with headspace gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/ITMS) to identify organic compounds associated with the: (i) solid microplastic fraction, and (ii) site water fraction. Identical retention times for GC peaks found in both fractions indicated compounds can move between the two phases, potentially available for uptake by aquatic biota in the dissolved phase. Patterns of tentatively identified compounds were similar to patterns obtained in Pyr-GC/MS. Embryonic zebrafish exposed to PyCG/MS- identified pure polymers in the 1–10 ppm range exhibited altered growth and heart defects. Using two analytic methods (SPME GC/MS and Pyr-GC/MS) allows unambiguous identification of compounds associated with microplastic debris and characterization of the major plastic type(s). Specific “fingerprint” patterns can categorize the class of plastics present in a waterbody and identify compounds associated with the particles. This technique can also be used to identify compounds detected in biota that may be the result of ingesting plastics or plastic-associated compounds.

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