We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Individual and combined dietary exposure to polyethylene microplastics and cadmium in Litopenaeus vannamei: biological effects and bioaccumulation
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists fed shrimp a combination of microplastics and cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) and found that together, these pollutants stunted the shrimps' growth more than either one alone—and the shrimp also absorbed higher levels of both contaminants into their bodies, especially in organs like the liver-equivalent (hepatopancreas). This matters because shrimp are a popular seafood, and if microplastics help "smuggle" more heavy metals into the animals we eat, our exposure to these contaminants through diet could be higher than previously thought.
Although polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) have been documented to adsorb heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd) in aquatic environments, the effects of their combined ingestion on marine organisms remain scarcely understood. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of spherical PE-MPs (53-63 μm) and Cd on survival, growth, and bioaccumulation in juvenile shrimps Litopenaeus vannamei exposed via feeding for 21 days. Individual (300 mg kg PE-MPs and 30 mg kg Cd) and combined exposures did not affect survival rates. However, the final weight was significantly lower in the combined treatment (3.8 ± 0.1 g) compared to the control (4.3 ± 0.2 g), suggesting that co-exposure to PE-MPs and Cd adversely affected growth. The highest PE-MPs accumulation at 21 days under the combined treatments was observed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (981.7 ± 70.8 MP g). Cadmium (Cd) accumulation followed the order hepatopancreas (HP) > GIT > gills (GL) > exoskeleton (EX) > muscle (MU), reaching its highest concentration in the HP of the combined treatment (91.7 ± 1.4 μg g), even higher than in the treatment with Cd alone (80.5 ± 5.6 μg g). Overall, dietary co-exposure to PE-MPs and Cd for 21 days reduced growth and increased the bioaccumulation of both contaminants, suggesting that combined exposure may modify contaminant bioavailability and retention. Further studies are needed to elucidate the metabolic mechanisms associated with this response.
More Papers Like This
Toxicological impacts of environmentally equivalent microplastics and cadmium co-exposure in tropical freshwater crab Sartoriana spinigera
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed freshwater crabs to microplastics and cadmium (a toxic metal) to see how these pollutants affect aquatic life, and found that the combination caused more harm than either one alone—damaging the crabs' liver-like organs, gills, and overall health. This matters because microplastics and heavy metals often mix together in real waterways, and this study shows their combined effects on animals we eventually eat may be worse than scientists previously realized when testing pollutants separately.
Individual and combined impact of microplastics and lead acetate on the freshwater shrimp (Caridina fossarum): Biochemical effects and physiological responses
AI summary Read the abstract
Freshwater shrimp exposed to polyethylene microplastics combined with lead showed significantly worse toxic effects than when exposed to either pollutant alone, with microplastics increasing how much lead accumulated in the shrimp's tissues. This demonstrates that microplastics can act as carriers that amplify the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic food chains, potentially increasing human exposure to dangerous metals through seafood.
Toxicities of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), alone or in combination, to the hepatopancreas of the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and a flame retardant chemical (HBCD) on the liver-like organ of whiteleg shrimp. The combination caused more severe damage than either pollutant alone, disrupting metabolism and triggering oxidative stress. This matters because microplastics in the ocean commonly carry absorbed chemical pollutants, making real-world exposure potentially more harmful than single-pollutant studies suggest.
Evaluation of single and combined effects of cadmium and micro-plastic particles on biochemical and immunological parameters of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the individual and combined toxicity of cadmium and polystyrene microplastics on common carp over 30 days. They found that co-exposure to both pollutants produced more severe effects on liver enzymes, immune function, and biochemical markers than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms, raising concerns about the combined impact of these co-occurring contaminants.
Immunotoxicity and oxidative damage in Litopenaeus vannamei induced by polyethylene microplastics and copper co-exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that when polyethylene microplastics carrying copper were injected into white shrimp, the combined exposure was significantly more harmful than either pollutant alone. The shrimp experienced suppressed immune function, increased oxidative stress, and severe damage to muscles, liver, and gills. Since shrimp are widely consumed seafood, these findings raise questions about how microplastic-bound metals in marine environments could affect both shellfish health and food safety.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.