Combining slow-release fertilizer and plastic film mulching reduced the carbon footprint and enhanced maize yield on the Loess Plateau.

Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production. Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region. Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity. Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas. However, the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage (SOCS), carbon footprint (CF), and economic benefits has received limited research attention. Therefore, we conducted an eight-year study (2015-2022) in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments [urea supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-U), slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-S), urea supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-U), and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-S)] on soil fertility, economic and environmental benefits. The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions (≥71.97%). Compared to other treatments, PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%, water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%, nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%, and net return by 6.21%-29.57%. Furthermore, PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31% and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%. After eight years, PM-S increased SOCS (0-40 cm) by 2.46%, while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%. These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility, economic gains, and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau, underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.

Rapid detection of colored and colorless macro- and micro-plastics in complex environment via near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.

To better understand the migration behavior of plastic fragments in the environment, development of rapid non-destructive methods for in-situ identification and characterization of plastic fragments is necessary. However, most of the studies had focused only on colored plastic fragments, ignoring colorless plastic fragments and the effects of different environmental media (backgrounds), thus underestimating their abundance. To address this issue, the present study used near-infrared spectroscopy to compare the identification of colored and colorless plastic fragments based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), extreme gradient boost, support vector machine and random forest classifier. The effects of polymer color, type, thickness, and background on the plastic fragments classification were evaluated. PLS-DA presented the best and most stable outcome, with higher robustness and lower misclassification rate. All models frequently misinterpreted colorless plastic fragments and its background when the fragment thickness was less than 0.1mm. A two-stage modeling method, which first distinguishes the plastic types and then identifies colorless plastic fragments that had been misclassified as background, was proposed. The method presented an accuracy higher than 99% in different backgrounds. In summary, this study developed a novel method for rapid and synchronous identification of colored and colorless plastic fragments under complex environmental backgrounds.

First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion by Riverine Fish From the Freshwater of Northwest Peninsular Malaysia.

In a baseline study, we investigated microplastic contamination in fish from the Pinang and Kerian Rivers in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia. In recognition of the growing concern over microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, we aimed to assess the abundance and characteristics of microplastics ingested by various fish species. Fish samples were collected from local fishermen, followed by a digestion process using 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH). Microplastics were isolated and analyzed through visual examination and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed a high prevalence of microplastics, with Johnius borneensis and Oreochromis sp. exhibiting the highest abundance, averaging 48.6 and 42.8 microplastics/g, respectively. The predominant shapes were fibers (55.6%) and fragments (25.9%), with colors primarily transparent (48.19%) and black (30.12%). Our results indicate significant contamination levels in freshwater fish, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies. These findings provide crucial baseline data on microplastics in Malaysian freshwater ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 SETAC.

Short-term microplastic effects on marine meiofauna abundance, diversity and community composition.

Background: Due to the copious disposal of plastics, marine ecosystems receive a large part of this waste. Microplastics (MPs) are solid particles smaller than 5 millimeters in size. Among the plastic polymers, polystyrene (PS) is one of the most commonly used and discarded. Due to its density being greater than that of water, it accumulates in marine sediments, potentially affecting benthic communities. This study investigated the ingestion of MP and their effect on the meiofauna community of a sandy beach. Meiofauna are an important trophic link between the basal and higher trophic levels of sedimentary food webs and may therefore be substantially involved in trophic transfer of MP and their associated compounds. Methods: We incubated microcosms without addition of MP (controls) and treatments contaminated with PS MP (1-µm) in marine sediments at three nominal concentrations (103, 105, 107particles/mL), for nine days, and sampled for meiofauna with collections every three days. At each sampling time, meiofauna were collected, quantified and identified to higher-taxon level, and ingestion of MP was quantified under an epifluorescence microscope. Results: Except for Tardigrada, all meiofauna taxa (Nematoda, turbellarians, Copepoda, Nauplii, Acari and Gastrotricha) ingested MP. Absorption was strongly dose dependent, being highest at 107 particles/mL, very low at 105 particles/mL and non-demonstrable at 103 particles/mL. Nematodes accumulated MP mainly in the intestine; MP abundance in the intestine increased with increasing incubation time. The total meiofauna density and species richness were significantly lower at the lowest MP concentration, while at the highest concentration these parameters were very similar to the control. In contrast, Shannon-Wiener diversity and evenness were greater in treatments with low MP concentration. However, these results should be interpreted with caution because of the low meiofauna abundances at the lower two MP concentrations. Conclusion: At the highest MP concentration, abundance, taxonomic diversity and community structure of a beach meiofauna community were not significantly affected, suggesting that MP effects on meiofauna are at most subtle. However, lower MP concentrations did cause substantial declines in abundance and diversity, in line with previous studies at the population and community level. While we can only speculate on the underlying mechanism(s) of this counterintuitive response, results suggest that further research is needed to better understand MP effects on marine benthic communities.

Management of Orthodontic Therapy-Associated Gingival Overgrowth for Esthetic Consideration in Anterior Maxillary Region: A Case Report.

Gingival inflammation and fibrous type of overgrowth, or a combination of both can lead to gingival enlargement (GE), and this negatively affects mainly masticatory function and esthetics, and sometimes causes psychological issues in patients. A typical characteristic of gingival diseases is gingival overgrowth, which can be brought on by fibrous overgrowth, gingival inflammation, or a combination of the two. It is a complex ailment arising from interactions between the environment and the host or different stimuli. Patients frequently have misaligned teeth, which encourages the buildup of bacterial plaque and unintentionally fuels gingival inflammation. Fixed orthodontic equipment can rectify this misalignment but they may also promote plaque buildup and the ensuing development of GE, gingival invaginations, and generalized hyperplastic gingivitis. The attachment of application and the rise in the amount of discernible supra- and subgingival plaque cause changes in microbial growth. Moreover, the force used in the treatment tends to activate the gingival soft tissue response. Clinical consequences such as persistent infection, inflammatory hyperplasia, gingival recession, attachment loss, or gingival overgrowth may arise after the device is placed. 'Plaque-induced' and 'non-plaque-induced' gingival disorders, such as gingival overgrowth, can be distinguished; however, a more precise fundamental etiology is frequently discernible. Several hereditary, systemic, or infectious diseases do not depend on plaque induction. Accompanying plaque accumulation in certain circumstances may make the clinical appearance worse. The case described here is of a 21-year-old female patient presenting with anterior maxillary GE associated with lateral incisors with orthodontic therapy. Surgical therapy was carried out to provide an excellent esthetic outcome for the patient.

A Comparative Study on Aesthetic and Pain Outcomes in Flap Versus Implant Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Surgical treatments, including mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction, are critical components of breast cancer management. This systematic review compares the outcomes of flap versus implant reconstruction post-mastectomy, focusing on aesthetic differences, pain, recovery, and psychological adaptation. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect databases. Inclusion criteria targeted studies comparing aesthetic outcomes, pain, recovery costs, duration, and psychological adaptation between flap and implant breast reconstructions. We excluded non-English and non-Spanish studies, case reports, and those without full-text availability. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). From an initial pool of 25,881 articles, 16 high-quality studies involving 14,196 participants were selected for synthesis. Flap reconstruction was associated with higher patient satisfaction regarding aesthetic outcomes and psychological well-being but also had higher complication rates, including infections and wound dehiscence. Implant reconstruction showed fewer complications but did not achieve the same level of patient satisfaction. Flap reconstruction, despite its higher complication rates, tends to provide superior aesthetic and psychological outcomes compared to implant reconstruction. These findings highlight the importance of personalized treatment plans considering individual patient needs and preferences. Future research should focus on long-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and standardized outcome measures to further delineate the comparative effectiveness of these reconstruction techniques. Personalized care and ongoing research are essential to improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors undergoing reconstruction.

Tracing macroplastics redistribution and fragmentation by tillage translocation.

Soil is polluted with plastic waste from macro to submicron level. Our understanding of macroplastics (> 5 mm) occurrence and behavior has remained comparatively elusive, mainly due to a lack of a tracing mechanism. This study set up a methodology to trace macroplastic displacement, which combined magnetic iron oxide-tagged soil and macroplastic pieces tagged by an adhesive passive radiofrequency identification transponder. By utilizing these techniques, a field study was carried out to analyze the effect of tillage implement and plastic sizes on plastic displacement, to understand the fate of macroplastics in arable land. Results indicated that the displacement of macroplastics did not depend upon plastic sizes but did depend upon the tillage implement used. The mean macroplastics displacement per tillage pass was 0.36 ± 0.25 m with non-inversion chisel tillage and 0.15 ± 0.13 m with inversion disk tillage, which was similar to bulk soil displacement. However, only inversion disk tillage caused fragmentation (41 %) of macroplastics and generated microplastics (< 5 mm). In contrast, both tillage implements drove to similar burial of surface macroplastics into the tilled layer (74 % on average). These results highlight that tillage is a major process for macroplastics fate in arable soils, being one of the first studies to investigate it.

Swallowed secrets - Plastic bezoar-induced gastric outlet obstruction in a 14-year-old girl: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a rare but serious condition that can arise from various etiologies, including foreign body ingestion. We present a unique case of GOO in a 14-year-old girl resulting from the accumulation of plastic materials, known as a plastic bezoar, due to pica behavior. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old girl with a history of pica presented with symptoms suggestive of acute gastric obstruction. Imaging studies revealed the presence of a large foreign body extending from the stomach to the jejunum, consistent with a plastic bezoar. Despite attempts at endoscopic removal, surgical intervention was ultimately required due to the size and location of the bezoar. DISCUSSION: This case underscores the challenges associated with diagnosing and managing gastric outlet obstruction secondary to plastic bezoar formation, particularly in pediatric patients with underlying pica behavior. The diagnostic workup involved a multidisciplinary approach, including imaging studies and endoscopic evaluation. Surgical intervention, although invasive, proved necessary for definitive treatment in this case. Postoperative care focused on monitoring for complications and addressing the underlying pica behavior through psychological intervention and support. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of early recognition, thorough diagnostic evaluation, and prompt intervention to prevent complications and ensure favorable outcomes. Collaborative efforts between medical and surgical teams are essential for the comprehensive management of such cases, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to address both the physical and psychological aspects of care.

Disparities in pathways to reduction mammaplasty: A single institution review of 425 women with macromastia.

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammaplasty improves the quality of life by providing functional and aesthetic benefits to women with macromastia. This study contributes to the existing literature on socioeconomic and clinical barriers to referral for plastic surgery procedures by focusing specifically on reduction mammaplasty. METHODS: Patients with macromastia were identified via a chart review in a single institution from 2021-2022. The treatment pathway for each patient was characterized by reception of referral, completion of plastic surgery consultation, and eventual reception of surgery. After controlling for clinical covariates, multivariate logistic regression was applied to quantify the independent impact of race, insurance, and language status on the completion of surgery (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The final patient cohort included 425 women with macromastia. Among the 151 patients who were first seen by a primary care physician, 64 (42%) completed an initial plastic surgery consultation. Among all patients, 160 (38%) eventually underwent reduction mammaplasty. Multivariate regression predictions indicated a lower likelihood of completing breast reduction surgery in patients with current smoking history (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.59) and higher body mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.97) (p < 0.05). Minority race and ethnicity, private insurance status, and primary language status were not significant predictors of this outcome (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the socioeconomic variables were not independent predictors of breast reduction surgery completion. However, the association of minority race and ethnicity and nonprivate insurance status with the most common reasons for breast reduction deferral suggest an indirect influence of socioeconomic status on the treatment pathway.

Impact of microplastic residues from polyurethane films on crop growth: Unraveling insights through transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis.

The utilisation of coated controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) leads to the persistence of residual plastic films in agricultural soils, posing a potential threat to crop health. This study investigates the impacts of four residual films (0.39 %, w/w) derived from CRFs in soil, including petrochemical polyether, bio-based polyether, castor oil polyester, and wheat straw polyester polyurethane on wheat growth. This study found that PecPEUR significantly reduced wheat plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and aboveground fresh weight by 24.8 %, 20.2 %, and 25.7 %. Through an in-depth exploration of transcriptomics and metabolomics, it has been discovered that all residual films disrupted glycolysis-related metabolic pathways in wheat roots, affecting seedling growth. Among them, PecPEUR significantly reduced the fresh weight of aboveground parts by 20.5 %. In contrast, polyester polyurethane residue had no discernible impact on aboveground wheat growth. This was attributed to the enrichment of wheat root genes in jasmonic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid metabolic pathways, thus mitigating oxidative stress, enhancing stress resistance, and ensuring normal plant growth. This study, for the first time, provides comprehensive insights into the effects of polyurethane film residue on wheat seedling growth, underscoring its potential as a promising alternative to conventional plastics in soil.

Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions.

Photodegradation of plastic consumer products is known to accelerate weathering and facilitate the release of chemicals and plastic particles into the aquatic environment. However, these processes are complex. In our presented pilot study, eight plastic consumer products were leached in distilled water under strong ultraviolet (UV) light simulating eight months of Central European climate and compared to their respective dark controls (DCs). The leachates and formed plastic particles were exploratorily characterized using a range of chemical analytical tools to describe degradation and leaching processes. These techniques covered (a) microplastic analysis, showing substantial liberation of plastic particles further increased under UV exposure, (b) non-targeted mass spectrometric characterization of the leachates, revealing several hundreds of chemical features with typically only minor agreement between the UV exposure and the corresponding DCs, (c) target analysis of 71 organic analytes, of which 15 could be detected in at least one sample, and (d) metal(loid) analysis, which revealed substantial release of toxic metal(loid)s further enhanced under UV exposure. A data comparison with the US-EPA's ToxVal and ToxCast databases showed that the detected metals and organic additives might pose substantial health and environmental concerns, requiring further study and comprehensive impact assessments.

Nanoporous, Ultrastiff, and Transparent Plastic-like Polymer Hydrogels Enabled by Hydrogen Bonding-Induced Self-Assembly.

Most natural supporting tissues possess both exceptional mechanical strength, a significant amount of water, and the anisotropic structure, as well as nanoscale assembly. These properties are essential for biological processes, but have been challenging to emulate in synthetic materials. In an effort to achieve simultaneous improvement of these trade-off features, a hydrogen bonding-induced self-assembly strategy was introduced to create nanoporous plastic-like polymer hydrogels. Multiple hydrogen bonding-mediated networks and nanoporous orientation structures endow transparent hydrogels with remarkable mechanical robustness. They exhibit Young's modulus of up to 223.7 MPa and a breaking strength of up to 10.3 MPa, which are superior to those of most common polymer hydrogels. The uniform porous nanostructures of hydrogen-bonded hydrogels contribute to a significantly larger specific surface area compared to conventional hydrogels. This allows for the retention of high mechanical properties in environments with a high water content of 70 wt %. A rubbery stage is observed during the heating process, which can reverse and reshape the manufacture of objects with various desired 2D or 3D shapes using techniques such as origami and kirigami. Finally, as a proof-of-concept, the outstanding mechanical properties of poly(MAA-co-AA-co-NVCL) hydrogel, combined with its high water content, make it suitable for applications such as smart temperature monitors, multilevel information anticounterfeiting, and artificial muscles.

Aldehyde End-Capped Degradable Polyethylenes from Hydrogen-Controlled Ethylene/CO Copolymerization.

To access degradable polyolefin plastic, non-alternating copolymerization of ethylene (E) and carbon monoxide (CO) for producing polyethylene (PE) with in-chain ketones is particularly appealing; however, it still presents significant challenges such as molecular weight modulation (hydrogen response) and chain endgroup control (functional terminal). In this study, we achieved hydrogen-controlled E/CO non-alternating copolymerization using late transition metal catalysts. This process results in linear PEs containing the desired non-alternating in-chain keto groups (1.0-9.3 mol%) and with tunable molecular weights ranging from 43 to 195 kDa. In this reaction, H2 serves as a chain transfer agent, modulating the polymer's molecular weight, forming unique aldehyde endgroups and eliminating usual olefinic endgroups; CO undergoes non-alternating insertion into the PE chain, resulting in a strictly non-alternating structure (> 99%) for the keto-PE. The dispersed incorporation of in-chain keto groups retains bulk properties of PE and makes PE susceptible to photodegradation, which produces significantly lower molecular weight polymers and oligomers with unambiguous vinyl and acetyl terminals.

Genome sequences of three plastic-debris-inhabiting fungi isolated from New Zealand waste and recycling management plants.

Cladosporium and Epicoccum are cosmopolitan fungi of the class Dothideomycetes with few cultured and genomic representatives. Here, we report draft reference genome sequences of Epicoccum sp. F181 (GenBank accession number JAJSLS01), Cladosporium sp. F165 (JAJSLR01), and F190 (JAJSLT01) isolated from recycling and waste management facilities in New Zealand.

A customized self-assembled synergistic biocatalyst for plastic depolymerization.

The enzymatic degradation of plastic offers a green, sustainable strategy and scalable circular carbon route for solving polyester waste. Among the earlies discovered plastic-degrading enzymes are PET hydrolase (PETase) and MHET hydrolase (MHETase), which act synergistically. To promote the adsorption of enzymes on PET surfaces, increase their robustness, and enable directly depolymerization, we designed hydrophobin HFBI fused-PETase and MHETase. A customized self-assembled synergistic biocatalyst (MC@CaZn-MOF) was further developed to promote the two-step depolymerization process. The tailored catalysts showed better adhesion to the PET surface and desirable durability, retaining over 70% relative activity after incubation at pH 8.0 and 60 °C for 120 h. Importantly, MC@CaZn-MOF could directly decompose untreated AGf-PET to generate 9.5 mM TPA with weight loss over 90%. The successful implementation of a bifunctional customized catalyst makes the large-scale biocatalytic degradation of PET feasible, contributing to polymer upcycling and environmental sustainability.

Biodegradation of four polyolefin plastics in superworms (Larvae of Zophobas atratus) and effects on the gut microbiome.

Recent studies have demonstrated superworms (larvae of Zophobas atratus) ability to degrade polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) within their digestive system. This study aimed to compare the ability of superworms to degrade the above four polyolefin plastics over a duration of 30 days. In this study, the degradation rate of PE was the highest, and the final average weight of superworms, as well as the final plastic mass loss consumed by them, significantly increased (73.38 % and 52.33 %, respectively) when PE was fed with wheat bran (1:1 [w/w]). FTIR and TGA indicated the occurrence of oxidation and biodegradation processes in the four polyolefin plastics when exposed to superworms. In addition, the molecular weights (Mw and Mn) of excreted polymer residues decreased by 3.1 % and 2.87 % in PE-fed superworms, suggesting that the depolymerization of PE was not entirely dependent on the gut microbial community. The analysis of the gut microbial communities revealed that the dominant microbial community were different for each type of plastic. The results indicate that the gut microbiome of superworms exhibited remarkable adaptability in degrading various types of plastics, and the intake preferences and efficiency of different plastics are associated with different dominant microbial community species.

Detection of benzotriazole-type ultraviolet stabilizers in sea turtles breeding in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Benzotriazole-type ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are emerging contaminants whose exposure to wildlife is of concern. In this study, we investigated the contamination status of BUVSs in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) breeding at Ogasawara Islands, Japan, through chemical analysis of 10 BUVSs and 26 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in adipose tissue (n = 21) and blood plasma (n = 9). BUVSs were detected significant levels in adipose tissue (19 of 21 turtles), and UV-327 (not detected - 14.8 ng/g-lipid, detection frequency: 76 %), UV-326 (not detected - 24.1 ng/g-lipid, 29 %), and UV-328 (not detected - 5.8 ng/g-lipid, 24 %) were frequently detected. Turtles exhibiting sporadically high concentrations of BUVSs (>10 ng/g-lipid) did not necessarily correspond to individuals with high total PCB concentrations (1.03-70.2 ng/g-lipid). The sporadic occurrence pattern of BUVSs suggested that these contaminants in sea turtles cannot be explained solely by diet but are likely derived from plastic debris.

Joseph Pancoast (1805-1882) and His Innovations in Plastic Surgery.

Background: Joseph Pancoast (1805-1882), a prominent figure in 19th-century surgery and medical education, introduced several innovative surgical techniques during his careerPurpose: While he made significant contributions to various areas of surgery, including plastic surgery and anatomy, his techniques were particularly notable for their precision and efficacy.Results: Some of his surgical innovations are the facial grafting especially in rhinoplasty either by using a forehead graft or by using a graft from the cheeks. He introduced his own operation for Staphyloplasty by dissecting two flaps of mucous membrane having a triangular shape and contributed also in taliacotian operation, blepharoplasty, otoplasty, cheiloplastic operation in case of lip cancer, amputations at the hip-joint, ocular deformities and tongue cancer restoration. In ocular surgery he had produced a fine needle turned into a hook in order to be inserted behind the cornea to cut deeply the soft parts of the lens and withdraw any hardened nucleus.

Mitigating the detrimental impacts of low- and high-density polyethylene microplastics using a novel microbial consortium on a soil-plant system: Insights and interactions.

The accumulation of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in soil has raised considerable concerns; however, the effects of their persistence and mitigation on agroecosystems have not been explored. This study aimed to assess the detrimental effects of PE-MPs on a soil-plant system and evaluate their mitigation using a novel microbial consortium (MC). We incorporated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at two different concentrations, along with a control (0 %, 1 %, and 2 % w/w) into the sandy loam soil for a duration of 135 days. The samples were also treated with a novel MC and incubated for 135 days. The MC comprised three bacterial strains (Ralstonia pickettii (MW290933) strain SHAn2, Pseudomonas putida strain ShA, and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9 (T) strain S7-10F), and a fungal strain (Aspergillus niger strain F1-16S). Sunflowers were subsequently cultivated, and physiological growth parameters were measured. The results showed that adding 2 % LDPE significantly decreased soil pH by 1.06 units compared to the control. Moreover, adding 2 % HDPE resulted in a more significant decrease in soil electrical conductivity (EC) relative to LDPE and the control. A dose-dependent increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was observed, with the highest DOC found in 2 % LDPE. The addition of higher dosages of LDPE reduced soil bulk density (BD) more than HDPE. The addition of 2 % HDPE increased the water drop penetration time (WDPT) but decreased the mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (MWD) and water-stable aggregates (WSA) compared to LDPE. The results also revealed that higher levels of LDPE enhanced soil basal respiration (BR) and microbial carbon biomass (MBC). The interaction of MC and higher MP percentages considerably reduced soil pH, EC, BD, and WDPT but significantly increased soil DOC, MWD, WSA, BR, and MBC. Regarding plant growth, incorporating 2 % PE-MPs significantly reduced physiological responses of sunflower: chlorophyll content (Chl; -15.2 %), Fv/Fm ratio (-25.3 %), shoot dry weight (ShD; -31.3 %), root dry weight (RD; -40 %), leaf area (LA; -38.4 %), and stem diameter (StemD; -25 %) compared to the control; however, the addition of novel MC considerably reduced and ameliorated the harmful effects of 2 % PE-MPs on the investigated plant growth responses.

Decades of monitoring plastic pollution in seabirds in Canada: Spatial, temporal, and methodological insights.

Plastic ingestion by seabirds is an increasing issue worldwide, yet species can vary in ingestion based on ecological and morphological differences. This provokes the ecological question of which species are better suited to monitor plastic ingestion across regions and time. In Canada, we examined plastic ingestion in sympatric northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), and black guillemots (Cepphus grylle). Here, we present new data and compare to historical work to inform plastic pollution monitoring in Canada. In 2021, 51 % of fulmars, 7 % of kittiwakes and 7 % of murres contained plastic, whereas guillemots had no pieces >1 mm. Regardless of the methods used to collect and process samples, fulmars continue to have low levels of ingestion compared to the European Arctic, but high levels compared to other species in the Canadian Arctic, emphasizing their continued utility as a monitoring tool for plastic pollution in Canada.