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Microplastics from marine exposed and pristine plastics as potential vectors of cadmium toxicity in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis
Summary
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in the ocean can carry toxic cadmium and deliver it to mussels, but surprisingly, the plastic-bound cadmium was actually less harmful than cadmium alone, possibly because the metal doesn't fully release from the plastic once eaten. Interestingly, plastics that had already been weathered by sun and seawater picked up less cadmium than fresh plastic. Since mussels and other seafood are a major way microplastics and their hitchhiking pollutants enter the human food chain, this research helps clarify how much of a risk these combined pollutants actually pose to the mar
Plastic pollution is an increasing threat to marine ecosystems, with microplastics (MPs) frequently co-occurring with other pollutants. MPs in the marine environment are subjected to weathering processes that alter MP physicochemical properties, potentially modifying their adsorption capacity and toxicity, thereby influencing their role as pollution vectors. This study evaluates the role of polystyrene MPs derived from non-weathered (NW) and weathered (W) plastics as potential vectors of Cd toxicity in mussels. Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels were exposed for 3 days to six different experimental conditions: NW and W MPs, MPs with adsorbed Cd, and Cd at concentrations corresponding to each MP adsorption. Histochemical, biochemical and histological biomarkers were assessed. The physicochemical characteristics of the resulting MPs appeared to influence Cd adsorption and biological responses in mussels. W MPs exhibited lower Cd adsorption capacity than NW MPs, probably related to the competitive behaviour of seawater salts for surface binding sites. LP and tissue-level alterations were notable responses to the tested pollutants, particularly under Cd exposure. Nevertheless, Cd toxicity decreased when it was adsorbed to MPs, suggesting that metal was not fully desorbed after the ingestion. Although both MP types induced limited biological effects, IBR analysis suggested differences in the biological response profiles depending on the MP adsorption capacity. The present experimental design represent a suitable approach to evaluate MPs as pollution vectors, as it specifically address the MP-mediated metal transport and toxicity to mussels.