Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae
This study is the first to investigate the ingestion of microplastics (MPs), plasticizers, additives, and particles of micro-litter < 100 μm by larvae of Simuliidae (Diptera) in rivers. Blackflies belong to a small cosmopolitan insect family whose larvae are present alongside river courses, often...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/7/383 |
| _version_ | 1827626422918709248 |
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| author | Fabiana Corami Beatrice Rosso Valentina Iannilli Simone Ciadamidaro Barbara Bravo Carlo Barbante |
| author_facet | Fabiana Corami Beatrice Rosso Valentina Iannilli Simone Ciadamidaro Barbara Bravo Carlo Barbante |
| author_sort | Fabiana Corami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study is the first to investigate the ingestion of microplastics (MPs), plasticizers, additives, and particles of micro-litter < 100 μm by larvae of Simuliidae (Diptera) in rivers. Blackflies belong to a small cosmopolitan insect family whose larvae are present alongside river courses, often with a torrential regime, up to their mouths. Specimens of two species of blackfly larvae, <i>Simulium equinum</i> and <i>Simulium ornatum</i>, were collected in two rivers in Central Italy, the Mignone and the Treja. Small microplastics (SMPs, <100 μm), plasticizers, additives, and other micro-litter components, e.g., natural and non-plastic synthetic fibers (APFs) ingested by blackfly larvae were, for the first time, quantified and concurrently identified via MicroFTIR. The pretreatment allowed for simultaneous extraction of the ingested SMPs and APFs. Strong acids or strong oxidizing reagents and the application of temperatures well above the glass transition temperature of polyamide 6 and 6.6 (55–60 °C) were not employed to avoid further denaturation/degradation of polymers and underestimating the quantification. Reagent and procedural blanks did not show any SMPs or APFs. The method’s yield was >90%. Differences in the abundances of the SMPs and APFs ingested by the two species under exam were statistically significant. Additives and plasticizers can be specific to a particular polymer; thus, these compounds can be proxies for the presence of plastic polymers in the environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-024b4e2d2436447ab9900bcf2327fb2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:54:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-024b4e2d2436447ab9900bcf2327fb2e2023-11-30T22:00:53ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042022-07-0110738310.3390/toxics10070383Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of SimuliidaeFabiana Corami0Beatrice Rosso1Valentina Iannilli2Simone Ciadamidaro3Barbara Bravo4Carlo Barbante5Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico—Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, ItalyInstitute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico—Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, ItalyENEA, SSPT-PROTER-BES, C. R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Roma, ItalyENEA, SSPT-PROTER-BES, C. R. Saluggia, Via Crescentino Snc., 13040 Saluggia, ItalyThermoFisher Scientific, Str. Rivoltana, Km 4, 20090 Rodano, ItalyInstitute of Polar Sciences, CNR-ISP, Campus Scientifico—Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, ItalyThis study is the first to investigate the ingestion of microplastics (MPs), plasticizers, additives, and particles of micro-litter < 100 μm by larvae of Simuliidae (Diptera) in rivers. Blackflies belong to a small cosmopolitan insect family whose larvae are present alongside river courses, often with a torrential regime, up to their mouths. Specimens of two species of blackfly larvae, <i>Simulium equinum</i> and <i>Simulium ornatum</i>, were collected in two rivers in Central Italy, the Mignone and the Treja. Small microplastics (SMPs, <100 μm), plasticizers, additives, and other micro-litter components, e.g., natural and non-plastic synthetic fibers (APFs) ingested by blackfly larvae were, for the first time, quantified and concurrently identified via MicroFTIR. The pretreatment allowed for simultaneous extraction of the ingested SMPs and APFs. Strong acids or strong oxidizing reagents and the application of temperatures well above the glass transition temperature of polyamide 6 and 6.6 (55–60 °C) were not employed to avoid further denaturation/degradation of polymers and underestimating the quantification. Reagent and procedural blanks did not show any SMPs or APFs. The method’s yield was >90%. Differences in the abundances of the SMPs and APFs ingested by the two species under exam were statistically significant. Additives and plasticizers can be specific to a particular polymer; thus, these compounds can be proxies for the presence of plastic polymers in the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/7/383blackfly larvaefreshwatersSimuliidaemicroplasticsadditivesplasticizers |
| spellingShingle | Fabiana Corami Beatrice Rosso Valentina Iannilli Simone Ciadamidaro Barbara Bravo Carlo Barbante Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae Toxics blackfly larvae freshwaters Simuliidae microplastics additives plasticizers |
| title | Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae |
| title_full | Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae |
| title_short | Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae |
| title_sort | occurrence and characterization of small microplastics 100 μm additives and plasticizers in larvae of simuliidae |
| topic | blackfly larvae freshwaters Simuliidae microplastics additives plasticizers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/7/383 |
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