61. Environmental hazard of polypropylene microplastics from disposable medical masks : acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and current knowledge on other polypropylene microplasticsAnita Jemec Kokalj, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne, Marjan Marinšek, Matej Dolenec, Luka Škrlep, Gregor Strmljan, Branka Mušič, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disposable plastics, including medical masks, which have become a necessity in our daily lives. As these are often improperly disposed of, they represent an important potential source of microplastics in the environment. We prepared microplastics from polypropylene medical masks and characterised their size, shape, organic chemical leaching, and acute toxicity to the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The three layers of the masks were separately milled and characterised. Each of the inner frontal, middle filtering, and outer layers yielded different types of microplastics: fibres were obtained from the inner and outer layer, but irregular fragments from the middle layer. The shape of the obtained microplastics differed from the initial fibrous structure of the intact medical mask layers, which indicates that the material is deformed during cryo-milling. The chemical compositions of plastics-associated chemicals also varied between the different layers. Typically, the inner layer contained more chemicals related to antimicrobial function and flavouring. The other two layers also contained antioxidants and their degradation products, plasticisers, cross-linking agents, antistatic agents, lubricants, and non-ionic surfactants. An acute study with D. magna showed that these microplastics do not cause immobility but do physically interact with the daphnids. Further long-term studies with these microplastics are needed using a suite of test organisms. Indeed, studies with other polypropylene microplastics have shown numerous adverse effects on other organisms at concentrations that have already been reported in the environment. Further efforts should be made to investigate the environmental hazards of polypropylene microplastics from medical masks and how to handle this new source of environmental burden. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, plastics-associated chemicals, Daphnia magna, fibres, fragments, nanofibres, polypropylene microplastics, single-use plastic Published in DiRROS: 05.05.2023; Views: 386; Downloads: 245 Full text (3,28 MB) This document has many files! More... |
62. New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 11Marko S. Sabovljević, Gordana Tomović, Marjan Niketić, Teodor T. Denchev, Cvetomir M. Denchev, Aneta D. Sabovljević, Sorin Stefanut, Gabriela Tamas, Zbigniew Szeląg, Boris Assyov, Lado Kutnar, Janez Kermavnar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: red algae Sheathia confusa, parasitic fungus Anthracoidea caryophylleae, mycorrhizal fugus Hydnellum caeruleum, bryoparasitic fungus Octospora erzbergeri, liverwort Cephaloziella baumgartneri, mosses Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Streblotrichum convolutum var. commutatum and Ulota crispula, monocots Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertolonii, Ophrys scolopax subsp. cornuta and Spiranthes spiralis and dicots Androsace hedraeantha, Hieracium mrazii, Ramonda nathaliae and Triglochin palustris are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions Published in DiRROS: 25.04.2023; Views: 545; Downloads: 216 Full text (223,52 KB) This document has many files! More... |
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65. Electrochemically-grown chloride-free ▫$Cu_2O$▫ nanocubes favorably electroreduce ▫$CO_2$▫ to methane : the interplay of appropriate electrochemical protocolStefan Popovic, Mohammed Azeezulla Nazrulla, Primož Šket, Kamal Khaja Mohaideen, Blaž Likozar, Luka Suhadolnik, Luka Pavko, Angelja Kjara Surca, Marjan Bele, Nejc Hodnik, 2023, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 14.03.2023; Views: 574; Downloads: 104 Full text (1,58 MB) This document has many files! More... |
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