Ecological risk assessment of microplastics in coastal, shelf, and deep sea waters with a consideration of environmentally relevant size and shape
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Title
- Ecological risk assessment of microplastics in coastal, shelf, and deep sea waters with a consideration of environmentally relevant size and shape
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Author(s)
- Jung, Jae-Woong; Park, June-Woo; Eo, Soeun; Choi, Jinsoo; Song, Young Kyoung; Cho, Youna; Hong, Sang Hee; Shim, Won Joon
- KIOST Author(s)
- Eo, Soeun(어소은); Cho, You Na(조유나); Hong, Sang Hee(홍상희); Shim, Won Joon(심원준)
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Alternative Author(s)
- 어소은; 송영경; 조유나; 홍상희; 심원준
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Publication Year
- 2021-02
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Abstract
- This study assessed the ecological risk posed by microplastics in surface and subsurface seawaters in coastal, continental shelf, and deep-sea areas of South Korea. The target microplastics for risk assessment were specified as only non-spherical type microplastics in the size range 20-300 mu m, because this type was predominantly observed in our study areas, and adverse biological effects have previously been reported. Exposure data for non-spherical microplastics were obtained from a previous study or were measured for microplastics of sizes down to 20 mu m. A predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 12 particles/L was derived by employing a species sensitivity distribution approach. Then the results were compared to the in situ observed concentrations at each site. The detected microplastic concentrations did not exceed the derived PNEC, i.e., the current pollution levels of fragment and fiber microplastics in the size range 20-300 mu m would not pose a significant threat to the marine ecosystem in South Korea. However, predictions are that microplastic pollution will increase to 50-fold by 2100 at the current rates, and in this scenario, the microplastic concentration is expected to far exceed the derived PNEC values for marine ecosystems. It is therefore urgent to take precautionary actions to prevent a further increase in microplastic concentrations in these environments. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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ISSN
- 0269-7491
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URI
- https://sciwatch.kiost.ac.kr/handle/2020.kiost/41358
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DOI
- 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116217
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Bibliographic Citation
- ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, v.270, 2021
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Publisher
- ELSEVIER SCI LTD
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Keywords
- Microplastic; Microplastic shape; Microplastic size; Ecological risk assessment; Predicted no effect concentration
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Type
- Article
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Language
- English
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Document Type
- Article
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