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Polystyrene nanoplastics modify phenanthrene-associated metabolic responses in the marine clam Mactra veneriformis
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Scientists studying clams found that when tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) mix with a common pollution chemical called phenanthrene in seawater, the clams' internal chemistry responds differently than to the chemical alone, suggesting plastics may change how pollutants behave in marine life. However, the study couldn't pin down exactly why this happens or confirm it reflects real-world ocean conditions, so more research is needed before drawing conclusions about risks to seafood safety or human health.
Phenanthrene (Phe) and plastic particles can co-occur in coastal waters, but their combined metabolic effects in marine bivalves remain uncertain. We exposed Mactra veneriformis to nominal Phe concentrations of 20, 50, or 100 μg L, 1 mg L polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), or their combinations for 8 d. Non-targeted LC-MS data were reanalyzed using the aquarium as the independent experimental unit, yielding three aquarium-level profiles per treatment. Of 543 MS/MS-annotated metabolites, 36, 118, 164, and 139 met prespecified effect-size and Welch-FDR criteria in the PS-NP versus control and the three solvent-matched Phe-plus-PS-NP versus Phe comparisons, respectively. Sixteen metabolites met these criteria in all four comparisons. Exact permutation tests of the supervised models gave P = 0.10, and no KEGG pathway remained significant after FDR correction. Dynamic light scattering showed that nominal 80 nm PS-NPs formed polydisperse aggregates in artificial seawater, reaching 1664 ± 511 nm after 24 h in the highest-Phe medium. These results show that PS-NPs were associated with changes in Phe-related metabolomic response patterns under the tested suspension conditions, but they do not identify a carrier-mediated mechanism or establish environmentally representative effects.
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Single and combined effects of phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on oxidative stress of the clam (Mactra veneriformis)
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Researchers tested the single and combined toxic effects of the pollutant phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on the clam Mactra veneriformis. The study found that both pollutants individually caused oxidative stress, but when combined, larger microplastics amplified the toxicity of phenanthrene, with phenanthrene remaining the dominant toxic factor in joint exposures.
Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve Crassostrea gigas
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Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics interact with cadmium and phenanthrene, two common coastal pollutants, using Pacific oyster larvae as a test species. They found that microplastics generally reduced the toxicity of these pollutants but could also act as carriers that alter how the toxins are delivered to the organisms. The study highlights the complex and sometimes unpredictable ways microplastics can change the impact of other pollutants on marine life.
Effects of nanoplastics on clam Ruditapes philippinarum at environmentally realistic concentrations: Toxicokinetics, toxicity, and gut microbiota
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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.
Exposure of marine mussels Mytilus spp. to polystyrene microplastics: Toxicity and influence on fluoranthene bioaccumulation
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Researchers exposed marine mussels to polystyrene microplastics alone and in combination with the pollutant fluoranthene to study their combined effects. They found that while the microplastics themselves had limited direct toxicity, they influenced how fluoranthene accumulated in and was cleared from the mussels' tissues. The study suggests that microplastics can alter the way marine organisms interact with chemical pollutants, potentially changing the risks these contaminants pose.
Are mixtures of micro/nanoplastics more toxic than individual micro or nanoplastic contamination in the clam Ruditapes decussatus?
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Researchers exposed clams to polystyrene nanoplastics and polyethylene microplastics, both separately and in combination, to test whether mixtures are more harmful. They found that nanoplastics accumulated more readily in clam tissues and that the mixture caused greater oxidative stress and cellular damage than either type of plastic alone. The study suggests that real-world exposure to multiple plastic particle sizes may be more harmful than exposure to a single type.
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