Microplastics as Vehicles of Environmental PAHs to Marine Organisms: Combined Chemical and Physical Hazards to the Mediterranean Mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis
Lucia Pittura,Carlo Giacomo Avio,Maria Elisa Giuliani,Giuseppe d’Errico,Steffen Keiter,Bettie Cormier,Bettie Cormier,Stefania Gorbi,Francesco Regoli +8 more
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In this article, the effects of microplastics on marine organisms were investigated in Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, using a quantitative weight of evidence (WOE) model.Abstract:
The ubiquitous occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment is raising concern for interactions with marine organisms. These particles efficiently adsorb persistent organic pollutants from surrounding environment and, due to the small size, they are easily available for ingestion at all trophic levels. Once ingested, MPs can induce mechanical damage, sub- lethal effects and various cellular responses, further modulated by possible release of adsorbed chemicals or additives. In this study, ecotoxicological effects of MPs and their interactions with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), chosen as a model compound for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Organisms were exposed for four weeks to 10 mg/L of low-density polyethylene (LD-PE) microparticles (2.34x107 particles/L, size range 20-25 µm), both virgin and pre-contaminated with BaP (15µg/g). Organisms were also exposed for comparison to BaP dosed alone at 150 ng/L, corresponding to the amount adsorbed on microplastics. Tissue localization of microplastics was histologically evaluated; chemical analyses and a wide battery of biomarkers covering molecular, biochemical and cellular levels allowed to evaluate BaP bioaccumulation, alterations of immune system, antioxidant defenses, onset of oxidative stress, peroxisomal proliferation, genotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Obtained data were elaborated within a quantitative weight of evidence (WOE) model which, using weighted criteria, provided synthetic hazard indices, for both chemical and cellular results, before their integration in a combined index. Microplastics were localized in haemolymph, gills and especially digestive tissues where a potential transfer of BaP from MPs was also observed. Significant alterations were measured on the immune system, while more limited effects occurred on the oxidative status, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity, with a different susceptibility of analyzed pathways, depending on tissue, time and typology of exposure. Molecular analyses confirmed the general lack of significant variations on transcriptional activity of antioxidant and stress genes. The overall results suggest that microplastics induce a slight cellular toxicity under short-term (28 days) exposure conditions. However, modulation of immune responses, along with bioaccumulation of BaP, pose the still unexplored risk that these particles, under conditions of more chronic exposure (months to years) or interacting with other stressors, may provoke long-term, subtle effects on organisms’ health status.read more
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Marine microplastic debris: An emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health.
Luís Gabriel Antão Barboza,Luís Gabriel Antão Barboza,A. Dick Vethaak,Beatriz R.B.O. Lavorante,Anne-Katrine Lundebye,Lúcia Guilhermino +5 more
TL;DR: In this brief review, the evidence of seafood contamination by microplastics is reviewed, and the potential consequences of the presence of microplastic in the marine environment for human food security, food safety and health are discussed.
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Jiana Li,Amy Lusher,Jeanette M. Rotchell,Salud Deudero,Alexander Turra,Inger Lise Nerland Bråte,Chengjun Sun,M. Shahadat Hossain,Qipei Li,Prabhu Kolandhasamy,Huahong Shi +10 more
TL;DR: It is proposed the use of mussels as target species to monitor microplastics and call for a uniform, efficient and economical approach that is suitable for a future large-scale monitoring program.
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Recent advances in toxicological research of nanoplastics in the environment: A review
TL;DR: There are still knowledge gaps in the determination and quantification of nanoplastics, as well as their contaminant release mechanisms, degradation rates and process from large plastics to nanoplastic, and the transportation of nanopLastics along food chains.
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The fate of microplastics in an Italian Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Stefano Magni,Andrea Binelli,Lucia Pittura,Carlo Giacomo Avio,Camilla Della Torre,Camilla Carla Parenti,Stefania Gorbi,Francesco Regoli +7 more
TL;DR: It is highlighted that WWTPs could represent a potential source of MPs also to agroecosystems and the possible re-use of WWTP sludge in fertilizers for agriculture is highlighted.
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Significance of interactions between microplastics and POPs in the marine environment: A critical overview
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the factors that drive the sorption dynamics between microplastics and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which essentially corresponds to polymer properties and surrounding environmental variables and highlight several supporting and rebuttal arguments in the direction to clear up the real hazard enforced by the presence of MPs in marine environments.
References
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