We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of acute exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles and water-soluble diesel oil fraction alone and combined in the ascidian Styela plicata: Synergistic gonadal tissue damage
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed sea squirts to nanoplastics and diesel oil chemicals, separately and together, and found that while each alone caused little harm, the combination damaged their reproductive tissue. This shows that pollutants we consider individually safe at low levels might actually be dangerous when mixed, a concern since oceans (and our seafood) often contain many pollutants at once.
Plastic and oil pollution are nowadays among the two major threats to marine ecosystems. They harm marine organisms through a series of toxicological effects from oxidative stress to DNA and tissue damage, up to mortality. Ascidians, as active filter-feeders, are vulnerable to suspended contaminant exposure and subject also to bioaccumulation. In the present study the single and combined short-term effects (48h) of nanoplastics as polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) and the water-soluble fraction of diesel oil (WFDO) were investigated for the first time on adults of the pleated sea squirt Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823) at environmentally realistic concentrations of PS NPs (PS NP 20 nm, 50 μg/L; WFDO 5% in FSW). Oxidative stress biomarkers as well as histological alterations were evaluated. No significant changes in the acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was observed, while the activities of the antioxidant enzyme, Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) were significantly reduced showing also a strong positive correlation. The Integrated Biomarker Response index (IBRv2i) confirms the antioxidant system perturbation. No changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed across all treatments either in single and combined exposures, suggesting that the reduced CAT and GST activities likely result from direct contaminant-enzyme interactions rather than oxidative stress. Histological analysis revealed no tissue alterations upon single exposure while significant structural changes were observed upon their combination. This inconsistency - no synergy for biochemical endpoints, yet synergy for gonadal damage exclusively in the combined group - suggests they operate through distinct mechanisms. These findings highlight the increased ecological risk from contaminant mixtures.
More Papers Like This
Acute toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined pollution by microplastics and petroleum on Tegillarca granosa in intertidal sediments based on biochemical indicators, histopathology, DNA damage and gene expression
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics floating in the ocean can soak up oil pollution like a sponge, and this new study found that this toxic combo causes more cell damage, tissue injury, and DNA harm in blood clams than either pollutant alone. Since these clams are commonly eaten seafood, this research is an early warning sign that combined pollution in our oceans could be creating a "double whammy" toxic effect that standard pollution testing (which usually looks at one pollutant at a time) might be missing.
Are mixtures of micro/nanoplastics more toxic than individual micro or nanoplastic contamination in the clam Ruditapes decussatus?
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Ecotoxicity of emerging pollutants: Interactive impact of polystyrene nanoplastics and Metanil yellow on Artemia salina
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed a common marine test animal, brine shrimp, to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with a synthetic yellow dye and found the mixture was far more toxic than either substance alone, killing over 93% of shrimp. The dye coated the nanoplastic surfaces, increased particle size, and amplified oxidative stress, showing that nanoplastics can make co-existing pollutants more dangerous.
Immunotoxicity of microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls alone or in combination to Crassostrea gigas
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed oysters to microplastics and PCBs (industrial chemicals) both alone and together, finding that the combination caused significantly worse immune damage than either pollutant on its own. The pollutants reduced the oysters' ability to fight infection, increased cell damage, and triggered cell death pathways. This synergistic effect is concerning because microplastics in the ocean often carry other toxic chemicals, potentially making contaminated seafood a greater health risk.
Toxic effects on ciliates under nano-/micro-plastics coexist with silver nanoparticles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the combined effects of different-sized plastic particles with silver nanoparticles on marine microorganisms and found that the mixture was more toxic than either pollutant alone. Smaller nanoplastics combined with silver nanoparticles caused the most severe damage, disrupting energy and fat metabolism and causing DNA and protein damage. This study shows how microplastics can amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants in marine food chains.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.