Abstract:
The worldwide contamination of aquatic ecosystems by plastics is raising concern, including their potential impacts on the base of the food chain, which has been poorly documented. This study sought to examine, for the first time, the presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in biofilms from freshwater streams/rivers. They were collected at selected polluted sites, such as the industrial sector for plastic recycling and production, miscellaneous industries, agriculture, municipal wastewaters/effluents and road runoffs. In parallel, the functional properties of sampled biofilms were determined by proteins, lipids, esterase (lipase), viscosity and oxidative stress. The results revealed that biofilms collected at the plastic industries and road runoffs contained the highest NP levels based on size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence detection and a new nanogold sensor visualization method. Examination of the chromatographic elution profiles showed increased abundance and size of NPs in the 10-150 nm size range at the polluted sites. Biofilms from the plastic industry site had elevated levels of aldehydes (oxidative stress) and lipids compared to the other sites. Biofilms collected at the municipal sites had elevated levels of proteins and esterases/lipases, with a decrease in total lipids. Biofilms collected at agriculture sites had the lowest levels of NPs in this campaign, but more samples would be needed to confirm these trends. In conclusion, biofilms represent an important sink for plastics in freshwater environments and display signs of distress upon oxidative stress.
摘要:
塑料对水生生态系统的全球污染引起了人们的关注,包括它们对食物链基础的潜在影响,记录不佳。这项研究试图检查,第一次,来自淡水河流/河流的生物膜中纳米塑料(NPs)的存在。它们是在选定的污染地点收集的,例如塑料回收和生产的工业部门,杂项行业,农业,市政废水/废水和道路径流。并行,样品生物膜的功能特性由蛋白质决定,脂质,酯酶(脂肪酶),粘度和氧化应激。结果表明,基于尺寸排阻色谱法,在塑料工业和道路径流中收集的生物膜含有最高的NP水平,荧光检测和一种新的纳米金传感器可视化方法。色谱洗脱曲线的检查显示,在污染部位,在10-150nm大小范围内,NP的丰度和大小增加。与其他位点相比,来自塑料工业位点的生物膜具有升高水平的醛(氧化应激)和脂质。在市政站点收集的生物膜的蛋白质和酯酶/脂肪酶水平升高,随着总脂质的减少。在这场运动中,在农业现场收集的生物膜的NPs水平最低,但是需要更多的样本来证实这些趋势。总之,生物膜是淡水环境中塑料的重要汇,并在氧化应激下显示出困扰的迹象。