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Trophic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics induces slight modulation of the antioxidant system in the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
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Scientists fed tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) to algae, then let clams eat that algae, to see how plastic moves up the food chain in estuaries—the same waters where much of our seafood comes from. The clams showed only mild stress responses (slightly higher antioxidant activity) and no harm to their overall health, growth, or immune system, suggesting that eating contaminated food causes less damage than direct exposure to plastics in water. While this is somewhat reassuring, it's still a reminder that plastic pollution is working its way through marine food webs that eventually reach our dinner plates.
Plastic contamination is increasingly recognized as a critical issue in estuarine ecosystems, posing potential threats to aquatic organisms. Although estuaries represent key transition zones for plastics moving from continental sources to the ocean, their ecological fate and effects in these environments remain insufficiently studied. In particular, the trophic transfer of micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) through trophic chains and the associated health risks are still poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the ecotoxicological consequences of trophic exposure to different types of nanoplastics in the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana . The marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was exposed for 48 h to environmentally relevant NP concentrations (0.008, 10, and 100 µg.L −1 ). Two categories of NPs were investigated: environmentally derived nanoplastics produced from field-collected macroplastics (ENV NPs) and commercial polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs). Following algal exposure, S. plana individuals were fed with NP-contaminated algae, and biological responses were evaluated at both the individual and biochemical levels. revealed that trophic exposure to NPs primarily induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased catalase (CAT) activity, with no statistically detectable alterations in condition index, clearance rate, or immune response. Finally, outcomes from this trophic transfer experiment were compared to those obtained in a previous study involving direct NP exposure under laboratory conditions. • Trophic exposure to environmentally relevant nanoplastics (NPs) slightly modulated antioxidant system in S. plana . • Polystyrene NPs induced stronger enzymatic activity than environmentally derived NPs (ENV NPs). • No disruption of filtration rate, condition index, or immune response was observed. • Tissue-specific responses showed gills as more reactive than digestive gland. • Trophic exposure caused weaker biological disturbance than direct exposure, except early digestive gland responses.
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Microplastics effects in Scrobicularia plana
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Researchers exposed clams to polystyrene microplastics for 14 days and found that the particles accumulated in tissues and were not fully eliminated even after a week of depuration in clean water. The microplastics caused measurable oxidative damage, DNA damage, and neurotoxic effects in the clams. The study demonstrates that even short-term microplastic exposure can cause lasting biological harm in marine bivalves.
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Researchers exposed clams to polyethylene microplastics at three different concentrations for 14 days and measured the effects on feeding, growth, and immune function. They found that higher microplastic concentrations reduced the clams' ability to filter water and caused weight loss, while also disrupting immune cell integrity. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can impair both the feeding efficiency and immune defenses of shellfish.
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Researchers exposed clams to nanoplastics at concentrations found in real marine environments and tracked how the particles accumulated in their tissues over 14 days. The nanoplastics caused physical damage and significantly altered the clams' gut bacteria. This is concerning because clams are widely consumed seafood, meaning nanoplastic contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and human food sources.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemical Contaminants Adsorbed to Microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana
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Researchers exposed clams to low-density polyethylene microplastics that had been pre-contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and measured ecotoxicological effects including oxidative stress and genotoxicity. The study found that microplastics carrying adsorbed chemical contaminants caused greater biological damage than clean microplastics alone, suggesting that the pollutant-carrier role of microplastics amplifies their environmental impact on bivalves.
Continuum of size from microplastics to nanoplastics: effects on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana at different levels of biological organization.
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Researchers exposed the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana to environmental microplastics and nanoplastics at low concentrations (0.008-100 ug/L), along with standard polystyrene nanoplastics, finding ecotoxicological effects on gills and digestive gland tissues at multiple levels of biological organisation.
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