Identification of hazardous nanoparticles present in the Caribbean Sea for the allocation of future preservation projects

Our plain-English summary of Identification of hazardous nanoparticles present in the Caribbean Sea for the allocation of future preservation projects, by L.F.O. Silva, L.P. Lozano, M.L.S. Oliveira, et al (Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021).

The study

• Authors: L.F.O. Silva, L.P. Lozano, M.L.S. Oliveira, K. da Boit, J.O. Gonçalves, A. Neckel
• Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Published: 2021;168:112425
• Cited by: 7 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

The deposition of remaining nanoparticles in the Caribbean Sea generates the formation of potentially dangerous elements, which influence at the imbalance of ecosystems. The detection of nanoparticles is not simple and the use of conventional methods is difficult application, which is why we highlight the immediacy and importance of this research for the areas of marine biology, urbanism, engineering and geosciences, applied in the Caribbean Sea. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the use of advanced methods for the determination of toxic nanoparticles, which can directly affect the development of marine organisms in the aquatic ecosystem in waters of the Caribbean Sea, favoring the construction of future international public policies with the elaboration of projects capable of mitigating these levels of contamination. The morphology and structure of nanoparticles were analyzed by emission scanning electron microscope with a high-resolution electron microscope. The nanoparticles smaller than 97 nm were identified in different proportions. The morphological analyses indicated nanoparticles' presence in the form of nanotubes, nanospheres, and nanofibers, which were shown in an agglomerated form. The presence of potentially hazardous elements, such as As, Cd, Pb, Mg, Ni and V were verified. In addition, the presence of asbestos in the form of minerals was confirmed, and that of titanium dioxide was found in large quantities. The results provide new data and emphasize the possible consequences to the in the Caribbean Sea, with the identification of dangerous elements (As, Cb, Pb, Hg, Ni and V), harmful to the marine ecosystem. Therefore, there is a need for strict control to reduce contamination of the Caribbean Sea and avoid risks to the ecosystem and public health, through suggestions of international public policies, through constant monitoring and the application of environmental recovery projects in this marine estuary.

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In plain English

This was an environmental sampling study of seawater, not a study of people. The authors collected seawater around eight islands near Cartagena, Colombia, in March and December 2017, taking 5 samples from each location at tourist sites. They examined particles with high-resolution electron microscopes and X-ray chemical analysis. They reported tiny particles shaped as spheres, tubes and fibers, often clumped together. Nanospheres measured 2 to 79 nm across in March, when they were found only at Rosario Island, and 4.5 to 93 nm in December, when all samples contained them. Nanofibers, seen mainly in December, included nano-silica fibers whose chemistry was similar to asbestos, specifically chrysotile, and fibers of manganese, barium, potassium, chlorine and iron oxides. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and vanadium were detected inside iron-sulfur particles called nanopyrites. Titanium dioxide particles were also found, which the authors believed came mainly from sunscreen. The authors attributed the asbestos to human sources such as cement, tiles and water tanks. They noted that filtering and the microscope's electron beam could alter the particles. They called for tighter pollution control and monitoring.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Environmental sampling study: seawater samples examined by electron microscopy with X-ray chemical analysis (no human or animal subjects)
• Who was studied: Seawater from around eight islands near Cartagena, Colombia (Coco Liso, Del Encanto, Rosario, Bauru, Tierra Bomba, Mucura, Tintinpán, Isla Grande). Samples were collected in March and December 2017 at tourist locations, with 5 samples per location.
• Exposure: Not a human exposure study. The study looked for nanoparticles in seawater, including nanofibers (some described as nano-silica with a chemistry similar to chrysotile asbestos), potentially hazardous elements, and titanium dioxide.
• Main results:
  • In March samples, nanospheres were found only in seawater from Rosario Island, with diameters of 2 to 79 nm. In December, all samples contained nanospheres, with diameters of 4.5 to 93 nm.
  • Across the samples, nanospheres were considerably more numerous than nanotubes.
  • Nanofibers in clusters were found mainly in the December seawater samples.
  • Some nanofibers were identified as nano-silica with a chemistry similar to asbestos, specifically chrysotile.
  • Other nanofibers were described as composed of manganese, barium, potassium, chlorine and iron oxides.
  • Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and vanadium were detected in the crystal structure of nanopyrites (particles made mainly of iron and sulfur).
  • Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were detected. The authors believed they come mainly from sunscreens used by tourists.
  • No nanoparticles were detected in blinded (control) samples.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the nanoparticles likely come from human sources, such as an oil refinery, buildings and their waste (mainly asbestos), and automotive waste. They suggested greater control of pollutants released into the air in Cartagena, along with inspections, decontamination projects and monitoring of marine life.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Because of spatial resolution limits in the analysis, only the chemical composition of the nanoparticles could be determined.
  • The microscope's electron beam may have caused particles to clump together or break apart during analysis.
  • Crystals may have formed after membrane filtration.
  • Some nanofibers were tangled together, so their length could not be calculated.
  • The microscopy methods are time consuming and costly.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Deposition.

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