Microplastics (MPs) have been an emerging concern due to their harmful effects on the ecosystem and are ubiquitous in various habitats, from marine to terrestrial environments. However, studies on the presence of MPs in recreational areas are limited. One of the previous works has reported that urban recreational parks are considered “sinks” for plastic debris, including MPs. In this study, low-density MPs (LD-MPs) in soil samples collected from recreational parks of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) were isolated by density flotation method. Results showed that these parks have varying levels of LD-MPs caused by various anthropogenic activities, such as sludge use and application of reclaimed water from wastewater treatment facilities in those areas. These plastic particles were isolated in 87% of the soil samples, with an average concentration of 1550 ± 340 MPs/kg. Predominantly, these comprised large LD-MPs (300 - 5000 μm), with red and blue being the most common colors. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified possible synthetic polymers, including polyethylene and polypropylene. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between LD-MP concentration and soil pH and moisture content, indicating potential adverse effects on soil health. These findings highlight the need for monitoring and managing microplastic pollution in urban recreational areas to mitigate its ecological impacts.
References
[1]
Chen, Z., Shi, X., Zhang, J., Wu, L., Wei, W. and Ni, B.J. (2023) Nanoplastics Are Significantly Different from Microplastics in Urban Waters. Water Research, 19, Article ID: 100169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100169
[2]
Leitão, I., van Schaik, L., Ferreira, A., Alexandre, N. and Geissen, V. (2023) The Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Topsoils of an Urban Environment—Coimbra City Case-Study. Environmental Research, 218, Article ID: 114961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114961
[3]
Townsend, K.R., Lu, H.C., Sharley, D.J. and Pettigrove, V. (2019) Associations between Microplastic Pollution and Land Use in Urban Wetland Sediments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26, 22551-22561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04885-w
[4]
Xu, Y., Chan, F., Johnson, M., Stanton, T., He, J. Jia, T., et al. (2021) Microplastic Pollution in Chinese Urban Rivers: The Influence of Urban Factors. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 173, Article ID: 105686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105686
[5]
Arias-Andres, M., Kettner, M., Miki, T. and Grossart, H.-P. (2018) Microplastics: New Substrates for Heterotrophic Activity Contribute to Altering Organic Matter Cycles in Aquatic Ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 635, 1152-1159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.199
[6]
Ivleva, N.P., Wiesheu, A.C. and Neissner, R. (2016) Microplastic in Aquatic Ecosystems. Angewandte Chemie, 56, 1720-1739. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201606957
[7]
Nguyen, M.K., Lin, C., Nguyen, H.L., Le, V.R., Kl, P., Singh, J., et al. (2023) Emergence of Microplastics in the Aquatic Ecosystem and Their Potential Effects on Health Risks: The Insights into Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Management, 344, Article ID: 118499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118499
[8]
Cohen, Q.M., Glaese, M., Meng, K., Geissen, V. and Huerta-Lwanga, E. (2022) Parks and Recreational Areas as Sinks of Plastic Debris in Urban Sites: The Case of Light-Density Microplastics in the City of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Environments, 9, Article 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9010005
[9]
Esiukova, E., Lobchuk, O., Haseler, M. and Chubarenko, I. (2021) Microplastic Contamination of Sandy Beaches of National Parks, Protected and Recreational Areas in Southern Parts of the Baltic Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 173, Article ID: 113002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113002
[10]
Koutnik, V.S., Leonard, J., El Rassi, L.A., Choy, M.M., Brar, J., Glasman, J.B., et al. (2023) Children’s Playgrounds Contain More Microplastics than Other Areas in Urban Parks. Science of the Total Environment, 854, Article ID: 158866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158866
[11]
Amato-Lourenço, L.F., dos Santos Galvão, L., de Weger, L.A., Hiemstra, P.S., Vijver, M.G. and Mauad, T. (2020) An Emerging Class of Air Pollutants: Potential Effects of Microplastics to Respiratory Human Health? Science of the Total Environment, 749, Article ID: 141676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141676
[12]
Wang, Y., Zhang, D., Zhang, M., Mu, J., Ding, G., Mao, Z., et al. (2019) Effects of Ingested Polystyrene Microplastics on Brine Shrimp, Artemia parthenogenetica. Environmental Pollution, 244, 715-722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.024
[13]
Isinibilir, M., Eryalçin, K.M. and Kideys, A.E. (2023) Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics in Different Diet Combinations on Survival, Growth and Reproduction Rates of the Water Fleas (Daphnia magna). Microplastics, 2, 27-38. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics2010002
[14]
Sussarellu, R., Suquet, M., Thomas, Y., Lambert, C., Fabioux, C., Pernet, M.E.J., et al. (2016) Oyster Reproduction Is Affected by Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113, 2430-2435. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1519019113
[15]
Di Bona, E., Haley, C., Geist, S. and Seemann, F. (2022) Developmental Polyethylene Microplastic Fiber Exposure Entails Subtle Reproductive Impacts in Juvenile Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 41, 2848-2858. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5456
[16]
Lekatompessy, V.C., Marhendra, A.P.W. and Kurniawan, N. (2023) Accumulation of Microplastics in the Digestive Tract and Gonads and Its Effects on Gonad Quality of Sea Urchins Tripneustes gratilla. Biotropika: Journal of Tropical Biology, 11, 53-63. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.biotropika.2023.011.01.07
[17]
Bai, Z., Wang, N. and Wang, M. (2021) Effects of Microplastics on Marine Copepods. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 217, Article ID: 112243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112243
[18]
Teng, M., Zhao, X., Zhao, L., Shi, D., Li, Y., Sun, J., et al. (2022) Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reproduction Is Affected by Lifecyle-Exposure to Differently Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Sex-Specific Responses. ACS Environmental Science & Technology, 2, 2558-2566. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00348
[19]
Bullard, J.E., Ockelford, A., O’Brien, P. and Neuman, C. (2021) Preferential Transport of Microplastics by Wind. Atmospheric Environment, 245, Article ID: 118038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118038
[20]
Rezaei, M., Riksen, M., Sirhani, E., Sameni, A. and Geissen, V. (2019) Wind Erosion as a Driver for Transport of Light Density Microplastics. Science of the Total Environment, 669, 273-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.382
[21]
Ashiq, M., Jazaei, F., Bell, K., Ali, A., Bakhshaee, A. and Babakhani, P. (2023) Abundance, Spatial Distribution, and Physical Characteristics of Microplastics in Stormwater Detention Ponds. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 17, Article No. 124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1724-y
[22]
Hajiouni, S., Mohammadi, A., Ramavandi, B., Arfaeinia, H., De-la Torre, G.E., Tekle-Röttering, A., et al. (2022) Occurrence of Microplastics and Phthalate Esters in Urban Runoff: A Focus on the Persian Gulf Coastline. Science of the Total Environment, 806, Article ID: 150559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150559
[23]
Rafique, A., Irfan, M., Mumtaz, M. and Qadir, A. (2020) Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Soil with Context to Human Activities: A Case Study from the Urban Center. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 192, Article No. 671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08641-3
[24]
van Schothorst, B., Beriot, N., Huerta Lwanga, E. and Geissen V. (2021) Sources of Light Density Microplastic Related to Two Agricultural Practices: The Use of Compost and Plastic Mulch. Environments, 8, Article 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments8040036
[25]
de Souza-Machado, A., Lau, C.W., Kloas, W., Bergmann, J., Bachelier, J.B., Faltin, E., et al. (2019) Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance. Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 6044-6052. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01339
[26]
Yang, X., Zhang, Z. and Guo, X. (2023) Impact of Soil Structure and Texture on Occurrence of Microplastics in Agricultural Soils or Karst Areas. Science of the Total Environment, 902, Article ID: 166189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166189
[27]
He, D., Luo, Y., Lu, S., Liu, M., Song, Y. and Lei, L. (2018) Microplastics in Soils: Analytical Methods, Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Risks. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 109, 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2018.10.006
[28]
Ingraffia, R., Amato, G., Bagarello, V., Carollo, F.G., Giambalvo, D., Iovino, M., et al. (2022) Polyester Microplastic Fibers Affect Soil Physical Properties and Erosion as a Function of Soil Type. Soil, 8, 421-435. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-421-2022
[29]
Lin, D., Yang, G., Dou, P., Qian, S., Zhao, L., Yang, Y., et al. (2020) Microplastics Negatively Affect Soil Fauna but Stimulate Microbial Activity: Insights from a Field-Based Microplastic Addition Experiment. Proceedings Royal Society B, 287, Article ID: 20201268. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1268
[30]
De Witte, B., Devriese, L., Bekaert, K., Hoffman, S., Vandemeersch, G., Cooreman, K. and Robbens, J. (2014) Quality Assessment of the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): Comparison between Commercial and Wild Types. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 85, 146-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.006
[31]
Martí, E., Martin, C., Galli, M., Echevarria, F., Duarte, C.M. and Cózar, A. (2020) The Colors of the Ocean Plastics. Environmental Science and Technology, 54, 6594-6601. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b06400
[32]
Fan, C., Huang, Y.Z., Lin, J.N. and Li, J. (2021) Microplastic Constituent Identification from Admixtures by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy: The Use of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Nylon (NY) as the Model Constituent. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 23, Article ID: 101798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.10179
[33]
Fotopoulou, K. and Karapanagioti, H.K. (2015) Surface Properties of Beached Plastics. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 11022-11032. https://doi.org/10.007/s11356-015-4332-y
[34]
Smith, B.C. (2021) The Infrared Spectra of Polymers III: Hydrocarbon Polymers. Spectroscopy, 36, 22-25. https://doi.org/10.56530/spectroscopy.mh7872q7
[35]
Huerta Lwanga, E., Vega, J., Quej, V., Chi, J., del Cid, L., Chi, C., et al. (2017) Field Evidence for Transfer of Plastic Debris along a Terrestrial Food Chain. Scientific Reports, 7, Article No. 14071. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14588-2
[36]
Tunali, M., Myronyuk, O., Tunali, M. and Yenigün, O. (2022) Microplastic Abundance in Human-Influenced Soils in Recreational, Residential, and Industrial Areas. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 233, Article No. 433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05901-5
[37]
Murphy, F., Ewins, C., Carbonnier, F. and Quinn, B. (2016) Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) as a Source of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 5800-5808. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b05416
[38]
Li, X., Chen, L., Mei, Q., Dong, B., Dai, X., Ding, G., et al. (2018) Microplastics in Sewage Sludge from the Wastewater Treatment Plants in China. Water Research, 142, 75-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.034
[39]
Habib, R. (2022) Sources and Distribution of Microplastics in the United Arab Emirates. Ph.D. Thesis, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi.
[40]
Wang, R., Ji, M., Zhai, H. and Liu, Y. (2020) Occurrence of Phthalate Esters and Microplastics in Urban Secondary Effluents, Receiving Water Bodies and Reclaimed Water Treatment Processes. Science of the Total Environment, 737, Article ID: 140219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140219
[41]
Cai, L., Wang, J., Peng, J., Tan, Z., Zhan, Z., Tan, X., et al. (2017) Characteristic of Microplastics in the Atmospheric Fallout from Dongguan City, China: Preliminary Research and First Evidence. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 24928-24935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0116-x
[42]
Shruti, V.C., Kutralam-Muniasamy, G., Pérez-Guevara, F., Roy, P.D. and Elizalde Martínez, I. (2022) Occurrence and Characteristics of Atmospheric Microplastics in Mexico City. Science of the Total Environment, 847, Article ID: 157601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157601
[43]
Evangeliou, N., Grythe, H., Klimont, Z., Heyes, C., Eckhardt, S., Lopez-Aparicio, S., et al. (2020) Atmospheric Transport Is a Major Pathway of Microplastics to Remote Regions. Nature Communication, 11, Article No. 3381. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17201-9
[44]
Wright, S.L., Ulke, J., Font, A., Chan, K.L.A. and Kelly, F.J. (2020) Atmospheric Microplastics Deposition in an Urban Environment and an Evaluation of Transport. Environment International, 136, Article ID: 105411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105411
[45]
Prata, J.C., da Costa, J., Lopes, I., Duarte, A.C. and Rocha-Santos, T. (2020) Environmental Exposure to Microplastics: An Overview on Possible Human Health Effects. Science of the Total Environment, 702, Article ID: 134455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134455
[46]
Dris, R., Gasperi, J., Mirande, C., Mandin, C., Guerrouache, M., Langlois, V., et al. (2017) A First Overview of Textile Fibers, Including Microplastics, in Indoor and Outdoor Environments. Environmental Pollution, 221, 453-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.013
[47]
Hernandez, E., Nowack, B. and Mitrano, D.M. (2017) Polyester Textiles as a Source of Microplastics from Households: A Mechanistic Study to Understand Microfiber Release during Washing. Environmental Science & Technology, 51, 7036-7046. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01750
[48]
Sillanpää, M. and Sainio, P. (2017) Release of Polyester and Cotton Fibers from Textiles in Machine Washings. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 19313-19321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9621-1
[49]
Carney Almroth, B.M., Åström, L., Roslund, S., Petersson, H., Johansson, M. and Persson, N.K. (2017) Quantifying Shedding of Synthetic Fibers from Textiles; a Source of Microplastics Released into the Environment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 1191-1199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0528-7
[50]
Ziajahromi, S., Neale, P.A., Rintoul, L. and Leusch, F.D. (2017) Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Pathway for Microplastics: Development of a New Approach to Sample Wastewater-Based Microplastics. Water Research, 112, 93-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.01.042
[51]
Lozano, Y.M., Lehnert, T., Linck, L.T., Lehmann, A. and Rillig, M.C. (2021) Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Concentration Affect Soil Properties and Plant Biomass. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, Article ID: 616645. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.616645
[52]
Zhao, T., Lozano, Y.M. and Rillig, M.C. (2021) Microplastics Increase Soil pH and Decrease Microbial Activities as a Function of Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Exposure Time. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9, Article ID: 675803. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803
[53]
Qi, Y., Ossowicki, A., Yang, X., Huerta Lwanga, E., Dini-Andreote, F., Geissen, V., et al. (2020) Effects of Plastic Mulch Film Residues on Wheat Rhizosphere and Soil Properties. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 387, Article ID: 121711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711
