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Microplastics from marine exposed and pristine plastics as potential vectors of cadmium toxicity in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis
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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.
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The effect of different types of microplastic and acute cadmium exposure on the Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819)
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This study examined how different types of microplastics, alone and combined with cadmium, affect Mediterranean mussels that are widely consumed as seafood. Exposure to microplastics and cadmium caused oxidative stress, tissue damage, and neurotoxicity in the mussels, with combined exposure being worse than either pollutant alone. The health risk calculations for human consumers exceeded safety limits, suggesting that microplastic-contaminated mussels could pose a real food safety concern.
PVC Does Not Influence Cadmium Uptake or Effects in the Mussel (Mytilus edulis)
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Researchers found that PVC microparticles did not significantly influence cadmium uptake or its biological effects in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), suggesting that this particular plastic-metal combination does not enhance cadmium bioavailability under the tested conditions. The study cautions against generalizing the 'Trojan horse' hypothesis across all plastic types and contaminant pairings.
Co-exposure to Microplastics and Cadmium: Effects on DNA Damage in Mytilus Galloprovincialis
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This study investigated how co-exposure to microplastics and cadmium affects DNA damage in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Microplastics acted as vectors for cadmium, and combined exposure resulted in greater genotoxic effects than either pollutant alone.
Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbate cadmium-induced bioenergetic impairment and oxidized phospholipid accumulation in the mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can act like a "delivery truck" for the toxic heavy metal cadmium, helping it build up in shellfish tissue and causing more cell damage than cadmium alone. This matters because it shows how plastic pollution and heavy metals in our oceans can team up to harm marine life more severely than either would separately, and since mussels and other seafood are part of the human food chain, this combined contamination could eventually affect the food we eat.
Mobilization and bioaccessibility of cadmium in coastal sediment contaminated by microplastics
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Plastics containing cadmium (a toxic heavy metal once common in plastic pigments) were ground into microplastic-sized fragments and mixed with coastal sediment; the cadmium was mobilized and became more available to organisms under certain conditions. This shows microplastics can carry and release toxic metals into marine environments.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.