Types and concentration of microplastics found on remote island beaches during the Race for Water Odyssey

Initiated in 2015 by the Race for Water Foundation, the Race for Water Odyssey is an environmental expedition which sailed across Atlantic, Pacific & Indian Oceans. It has 3 main goals: i) analyse plastic pollution on beaches of remote islands; ii) raise awareness about water plastic pollution; iii) identify solutions to prevent waste from ending in the ocean. Results: High inter-archipelago and inter-beaches variability of micro-plastic concentrations for this worldwide study The North and South Pacific Gyres are the most polluted areas, followed by the North Atlantic Gyre and the Indian Ocean Gyre. Data for the South Atlantic Gyre will come later Hard fragments in large proportion in every stopover, probably mostly due to the degradation of larger plastic debris Pellets also are of great concern, as they were found in every beach, except for Palau Higher polyethylene proportion for hard fragments (1-5 mm), with significant local variation

Race For Water Odyssey: Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Marine Plastic Debris Collected on Shorelines

With the help of the local people we met during the course of the 2015 Odyssey, the main objective, obtaining a collection of comparable data about marine plastic pollution using the NOAA internationally recognized protocol, has been achieved. It cannot be sufficiently stressed that not one of the 30 sampled shorelines during this worldwide journey was free from marine plastic debris. As for the recent identification of plastic debris in the Arctic and Antarctic areas, this observation confirms that plastic contamination in the oceans is ubiquitous. Whether in terms of macrodebris (>2.5 cm) or microplastics (< 5 mm) concentrations, Hawaii constitutes by far the 2015 Odyssey’s most notable hotspot. The highest macrodebris concentration registered at Kamilo Point in Hawaii (more than 3,500 macrodebris per 100 m2) was almost ten times greater than the second hotspot of the 2015 Odyssey, Pago Bay (372) on Guam Island in the Mariana Archipelago. Hawaii also constitutes the highest microplastics concentration hotspot with more than 94,000 particles per m2 collected once again at Kamilo Point again. For comparison, the second highest concentration, Ovahe beach on Easter Island, revealed more than 24,000 microparticles per m2. Unfortunately, based on their locations, marine macrodebris concentrations can suffer bias due to direct waste disposal (intentional or accidental) of tourists and/or local residents, and also because of the consecutive shoreline clean-up campaigns. Therefore, microplastic concentrations are a more reliable indicator to establish a comparison between study sites. On that basis, Northeast Pacific islands – especially the Hawaiian Archipelago – experience the most significant marine debris accumulation, followed by those of the South Pacific, Northeast Atlantic, Indian, Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans respectively. The macrodebris and microplastic average concentrations are summarized below in Figure 1. In qualitative terms, the hard plastic fragments category largely dominates the macroplastics content except for Palau and Chagos (BIOT). Other dominant categories are plastic foams, bottles and caps, and fishing lines and ropes. Foams were particularly predominant in Chagos, while bottles and caps constituted almost 70% of macrodebris in Palau. Besides, significantly higher bottle and cap concentrations were evidenced near the Asian continent. Fishing lines and ropes stood out particularly in Bermuda. Microplastic concentrations confirmed these trends with more than 80% of hard plastic fragments on every stopover, except Easter Island and Tristan da Cunha (around 60%). More specifically, Easter Island showed a significant concentration of pellets, while Bermuda confirmed a strong presence of fishing lines among the microparticles. Lastly, the polymer analysis of the hard plastic fragments ranging from 1 mm to 2.5 cm revealed the prevalence of polyethylene (PE) throughout all of the study sites, except for Tristan da Cunha where polypropylene (PP) dominated. Hawaii, Mariana, Palau and Mascarene also showed significant PP concentrations (between 31 to 47% of items). Other kinds of polymer such as EVA and PMP, have been evidenced especially on Tristan da Cunha, but also on the Azores and Mariana

Toxicity assessment of pollutants sorbed on microplastics using various bioassays on two fish cell lines

Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments resulted from runoff and weathering breakdown of larger plastics debris. They represent an emerging concern for marine ecosystems. Microplastics impacts on aquatic life are little studied. These small particles could be ingested directly by organisms and cause chronic physical and toxicological effects. Moreover, microplastics are the support for a lot of chemicals present in aquatic environment, especially hydrophobic substances. The aims of this study is to investigate toxicity of environmental microplastics samples collected during the Race for Water Odyssey in fish cell lines. A difference of sensitivity was observed between fish cell lines. Preliminary results obtained here support that RTLW-1 could be an interesting tool to evaluate the potential chemical toxicity of microplastics and sorbed pollutants. Toxicity of extracts from MP collected worldwide suggests a biological impact

Environmental samples of microplastics induce significant toxic effects in fish larvae.

Microplastics (MPs) are present throughout aquatic ecosystems, and can be ingested by a wide variety of organisms. At present, the physical and chemical effects of environmental MPs on aquatic organisms are poorly documented. This study aims to examine the physiological and behavioral effects caused by fish consuming environmental microplastics at different life stages. MP samples were collected from beaches on three islands (Easter Island, Guam and Hawaii) located near the North and South gyres of the Pacific Ocean. Larvae and juveniles of Japanese Medaka were fed for 30days with three doses of MPs (0.01, 0.1 and 1% w/w in fish food) approximate to the concentrations measured in moderately and heavily contaminated ocean areas. Ingestion of MPs by medaka larvae caused (variously) death, decreased head/body ratios, increased EROD activity and DNA breaks and, alterations to swimming behavior. A diet of 0.1% MPs was the most toxic. Two-month-old juveniles fed with 0.01% MPs did not exhibit any symptoms except an increase in DNA breaks. Our results demonstrate ingestion and mainly sublethal effects of environmental MPs in early life stages of fish at realistic MP concentrations. The toxicity of microplastics varies from one sample to another, depending on polymer composition, weathering and pollutant content. This study examines the ecological consequences microplastic build-up in aquatic ecosystems, more particularly in coastal marine areas, which serve as breeding and growing grounds for a number of aquatic species

Meniscal allograft transplantation: a meta-analysis

Purpose: This meta-analysis evaluates the mid- to long-term survival outcome of MAT (meniscal allograft transplantation). Potential prognosticators, with particular focus on chondral status and age of the patient at the time of transplantation, were also analysed. Study design: Meta-analysis. Methods: An online database search was performed using following search string: “meniscal allograft transplantation” and “outcome”. A total of 65 articles were analysed for a total of 3157 performed MAT with a mean follow-up of 5.4 years. Subjective and clinical data was analysed. Results: The subjective and objective results of 2977 patients (3157 allografts) were analysed; 70% were male, 30% were female. Thirty-eight percent received an isolated MAT. All other patients underwent at least one concomitant procedure. Lysholm, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were analysed. All scores showed a good patient satisfaction at long-term follow-up. The mean overall survival rate was 80.9%. Complication rates were comparable to standard meniscal repair surgery. There was a degenerative evolution in osteoarthritis with at least one grade in 1760 radiographically analysed patients. Concomitant procedures seem to have no effect on the outcome. Age at transplantation is a negative prognosticator. The body mass index (BMI) of the patient shows a slightly negative correlation with the outcome of MAT. Conclusions: MAT is a viable solution for the younger patient with chronic pain in the meniscectomised knee joint. The complications are not severe and comparable to meniscal repair. The overall failure rate at final follow-up is acceptable and the allograft heals well in most cases, but MAT cannot be seen as a definitive solution for post-meniscectomy pain. The correct approach to the chronic painful total meniscectomised knee joint thus requires consideration of all pathologies including alignment, stability, meniscal abnormality and cartilage degeneration. It requires possibly combined but appropriate action in that order

Quelle toxicité pour les plastiques récoltés sur nos plages ?

Les débris plastiques accumulés dans l’océan mondial représentent une quantité considérable de plusieurs dizaines de millions de tonnes. Les microplastiques sont de minuscules fragments de plastique de diamètre compris entre 1 µm et 5 mm. Ils résultent soit de la dégradation de macroplastiques soit de la dispersion de microplastiques (MP) présents dans les détergents, les produits de soin corporel, etc. L'accumulation de particules microplastiques dans l'environnement aquatique représente une préoccupation émergente. En effet, ces petites particules peuvent être ingérées par les organismes vivants et provoquer des effets physiques et /ou toxicologiques. Ce sont également des surfaces d’adsorption et des vecteurs pour de nombreux polluants en particulier des substances hydrophobes. De nombreuses études ont documenté la présence de microplastiques dans les milieux aquatiques et la contamination du biote mais les impacts sur les organismes aquatiques sont peu connus à ce jour. Ce travail visait à caractériser les microplastiques présents sur des plages au niveau des principaux gires océaniques (Odyssée Race for Water 2015) puis à mesurer leur toxicité sur cellules (lignée RTLW1) et embryons et larves d’un poisson modèle le médaka Japonais, Oryzias latipes. Aucune toxicité n'a été observée pour les microplastiques commerciaux quels que soit l'essai biologique et le mode de contamination utilisés. Il a été en revanche montré que la densité et la composition des microplastiques varie selon les plages ainsi que les concentrations en HAP, PCB et pesticides organochlorés adsorbés. Les extraits organiques (DMSO) de ces plastiques n’ont pas induit d’effets aigus ni sur cellules ni sur embryons. En revanche, une induction significative de l’activité EROD, des dommages à l’ADN (test des comètes) a été observée sur cellules comme sur embryons pour certains échantillons (Hawaï). Par ailleurs, chez les larves à l’éclosion la croissance et le comportement natatoire ont été affectés. Enfin, des larves nourries pendant 30 jours avec un aliment enrichi en MP (0,1%) ont vu leur survie et/ou leur croissance et leur comportement natatoire affectés. Cette étude démontre pour la première fois l’écotoxicité potentielle de microplastiques collectés en milieu naturel et pose la question du risque que font peser ces particules sur les écosystèmes aquatiques