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Multigenerational effects of microplastics and phthalates on fitness-related traits in a field cricket
Summary
Researchers exposed crickets to microplastics and phthalates (chemicals added to plastics to make them flexible) and found that phthalates alone caused real harm, parents mated less successfully, and their offspring had lower survival rates and altered development. While this study was done in insects, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that phthalates, chemicals we're routinely exposed to through plastic food packaging, cosmetics, and other products, may have lasting effects that carry over to the next generation, which is worth taking seriously given how common these chemicals are in daily life.
Global plastic production is increasing exponentially, making microplastics (MPs; plastic particles <5 mm) ubiquitous in animals' environments. Microplastics can exhibit sex-specific toxicity and release harmful phthalate esters (PAEs), which are known endocrine disruptors in vertebrates and are often added to plastics to enhance flexibility and durability. Yet, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the combined biological effects of MPs and PAEs. Because environments exhibit long-term contamination by MPs and PAEs, maternal and paternal exposure to these contaminants may have carryover (transgenerational) effects on offspring. Here, we used a factorial design with dietary MPs and PAEs in the variable field cricket (Gryllus lineaticeps) to determine within-generation effects on reproduction (mating success and egg production) and across-generation effects on offspring (e.g., hatching success and hatchling developmental rates). Exposure to PAEs during early adulthood entailed significant within- and across-generational costs, including reduced parental mating success and reduced offspring hatching success, respectively. Adults exposed to PAEs also had offspring with altered developmental life histories characterized by a shortened embryonic stage and a prolonged post-embryonic stage. In contrast, the within- and across-generational effects of maternal and paternal MPs exposure were context-dependent and only evident through certain interactions. For example, MPs and PAEs interacted in a context-dependent antagonistic dynamic where exposure to one of these factors improved egg-laying, whereas exposure to both factors eliminated the observed benefit. In sum, we show that plastic pollution- particularly, PAEs- pose comprehensive threats to animals spanning from generation to generation.