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Tissue damage to clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) exposed to different concentrations of nanoparticles of a stable polymer (polystyrene) compared to a biodegradable polymer (poly(lactic acid)).
Summary
Researchers exposed juvenile clownfish to polystyrene and biodegradable poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles at low concentrations (0.01 and 0.10 mg/L) and found that both polymer types caused moderate to severe histopathological damage to gills and liver within 24 hours, with no recovery over seven days, suggesting that biodegradable alternatives are not inherently safer at the nano-scale.
This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of polystyrene (PS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) on the gills and liver of the clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. Seventy-five juveniles, with an average weight of 2.01 ± 0.61 g and an average total length of 5.26 ± 0.53 cm, were randomly distributed into 15 tanks at a stocking density of five individuals per tank. The organisms were exposed to the following concentrations: 0 mg L (control), 0.01 mg L PLA-NPs, 0.01 mg L PS-NPs, 0.10 mg L PLA-NPs, and 0.10 mg L PS-NPs. Gill and liver samples were collected after 24, 48, and 168 h of NP exposure. Control juveniles showed no alterations in the liver or gills. Juveniles exposed to both concentrations of PS-NPs and PLA-NPs (0.01 and 0.10 mg L) showed moderate to severe alterations to the liver at all time points (24, 48, and 168 h). Alterations to the gills were found to some degree at all concentrations and collection times. In the gills and liver, degree of tissue changes (DTC) values did not differ between collection times within each treatment (P > 0.05), but were significantly higher in all treatments with NPs compared to the control group at each time point evaluated (P < 0.05). It is concluded that polystyrene and poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles, even at low concentrations, cause significant histopathological damage to the gills and liver of A. ocellaris.