New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have become a major global concern, however, the distribution and origin of MPs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and their impacts on ecosystem are poorly known. Hence, we systematically evaluated the profile of MPs on the representative metropolitan locati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023002295 |
| _version_ | 1797823325410426880 |
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| author | Qianqian Li Ziwei Han Guijin Su Meifang Hou Xihui Liu Xu Zhao Yukang Hua Bin Shi Jing Meng Mengjing Wang |
| author_facet | Qianqian Li Ziwei Han Guijin Su Meifang Hou Xihui Liu Xu Zhao Yukang Hua Bin Shi Jing Meng Mengjing Wang |
| author_sort | Qianqian Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have become a major global concern, however, the distribution and origin of MPs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and their impacts on ecosystem are poorly known. Hence, we systematically evaluated the profile of MPs on the representative metropolitan locations of Lhasa and Huangshui Rivers and the scenic sites of Namco and Qinghai Lake. The average abundance of MPs in the water samples was 7020 items/m3, which was 34 and 52 times higher than those for the sediment (206.7 items/m3) and soil samples (134.7 items/m3), respectively. Huangshui River had the highest levels, followed by Qinghai Lake, Lhasa River and Namco. Human activities rather than altitude and salinity impacted the distribution of MPs in those areas. Besides the consumption of plastic products by locals and tourists, laundry wastewater and exogenous tributary inputs, the unique prayer flag culture also contributed to the MPs emission in QTP. Notably, the stability and fragment of MPs were crucial for their fate. Multiple assessment models were employed to evaluate the risk of MPs. PERI model took MP concentration, background value and toxicity into account, comprehensively describing the risk differences of each site. The large PVC proportion in Qinghai Lake posed the highest risk. Furthermore, concerns should be raised about PVC, PE and PET in Lhasa and Huangshui Rivers, and PC in Namco Lake. Risk quotient suggested that aged MPs in sediments slowly released biotoxic DEHP and should be cleaned up promptly. The findings offer baseline data of MPs in QTP and ecological risks, providing important support for the prioritization of future control measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:22:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02809e81751b4f62ab8256df0869240b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:22:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-02809e81751b4f62ab8256df0869240b2023-05-20T04:29:17ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202023-05-01175107956New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet PlateauQianqian Li0Ziwei Han1Guijin Su2Meifang Hou3Xihui Liu4Xu Zhao5Yukang Hua6Bin Shi7Jing Meng8Mengjing Wang9Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding author at: Key Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.School of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health Effects, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaSchool of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, ChinaMicroplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have become a major global concern, however, the distribution and origin of MPs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and their impacts on ecosystem are poorly known. Hence, we systematically evaluated the profile of MPs on the representative metropolitan locations of Lhasa and Huangshui Rivers and the scenic sites of Namco and Qinghai Lake. The average abundance of MPs in the water samples was 7020 items/m3, which was 34 and 52 times higher than those for the sediment (206.7 items/m3) and soil samples (134.7 items/m3), respectively. Huangshui River had the highest levels, followed by Qinghai Lake, Lhasa River and Namco. Human activities rather than altitude and salinity impacted the distribution of MPs in those areas. Besides the consumption of plastic products by locals and tourists, laundry wastewater and exogenous tributary inputs, the unique prayer flag culture also contributed to the MPs emission in QTP. Notably, the stability and fragment of MPs were crucial for their fate. Multiple assessment models were employed to evaluate the risk of MPs. PERI model took MP concentration, background value and toxicity into account, comprehensively describing the risk differences of each site. The large PVC proportion in Qinghai Lake posed the highest risk. Furthermore, concerns should be raised about PVC, PE and PET in Lhasa and Huangshui Rivers, and PC in Namco Lake. Risk quotient suggested that aged MPs in sediments slowly released biotoxic DEHP and should be cleaned up promptly. The findings offer baseline data of MPs in QTP and ecological risks, providing important support for the prioritization of future control measures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023002295MicroplasticsQinghai Tibetan PlateauDistributionPotential sourceRisk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Qianqian Li Ziwei Han Guijin Su Meifang Hou Xihui Liu Xu Zhao Yukang Hua Bin Shi Jing Meng Mengjing Wang New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Environment International Microplastics Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Distribution Potential source Risk assessment |
| title | New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title_full | New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title_fullStr | New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title_short | New insights into the distribution, potential source and risk of microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau |
| title_sort | new insights into the distribution potential source and risk of microplastics in qinghai tibet plateau |
| topic | Microplastics Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Distribution Potential source Risk assessment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023002295 |
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