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Reproductive Effects of Phthalates and Microplastics on Marine Mussels Based on Adverse Outcome Pathway
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Researchers found that microplastics and the chemical plasticizer DEHP that leaches from them work together to disrupt reproductive function in female mussels by interfering with estrogen signaling and reducing hormone levels. While this study focused on marine mussels, DEHP is a known endocrine disruptor in humans as well, and the findings illustrate how microplastics can release harmful chemicals that affect hormone systems.
Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern. As filter-feeding organisms, marine mussels are particularly vulnerable to microplastics. Moreover, phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are known to leach from microplastics under various environmental conditions. Among PAEs, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common endocrine disruptor. We investigated the effects of microplastics and plasticizers on the reproductive function of the female mussel Mytilus coruscus. The results revealed that environmental exposure to DEHP and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) triggered molecular changes by allowing DEHP to act as an antiestrogen by binding with estrogen receptors (ER), thereby constituting the molecular initiating event. Key events were the suppression of ER, cytochrome P450-3 (CYP3), and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) gene expressions, which reduced estradiol and progesterone levels in ovarian tissues. Ultimately adverse outcomes occurred: antioxidant capacity in ovarian tissue was impaired, hindering ovarian development and reducing reproductive function. This study introduces a novel adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework focusing on reproductive impairment in shellfish. By integrating experimental findings with the AOP concept, the research provides essential data for understanding the toxicological effects of microplastic pollutants on mussels. This framework offers valuable insights for risk assessment, contributing to a better understanding of how microplastics and plasticizers threaten marine life.
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Exposure to Plasticiser DEHP Affects Eggs Spawned by Blue Mussels: A Possible Risk to Fertilisation?
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Researchers exposed blue mussels to the plasticizer DEHP, a chemical commonly found in plastic products and marine waters, and examined its effects on egg production during spawning. They found that even at environmentally relevant concentrations, DEHP exposure reduced the number of eggs spawned by female mussels. The study suggests that widespread plasticizer contamination in ocean waters could pose a risk to the reproductive success of filter-feeding marine organisms.
Combined ecotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate increase exposure risks to Mytilus coruscus based on the bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, metabolic profiles, and nutritional interferences
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Researchers exposed hard-shelled mussels to a common plastic additive (DEHP) and polystyrene microplastics together, and found that the microplastics increased how much DEHP accumulated in the animals' digestive organs. The combined exposure disrupted the mussels' antioxidant defenses and altered their metabolic processes more than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of chemical pollutants in marine organisms.
Revealing the effects of polystyrene microplastics and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on mussels:An evidence chain of gill-intestine-hemolymph
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Researchers exposed mussels to polystyrene microplastics combined with the plasticizer DEHP for 30 days and found a cascade of harmful effects across gill, intestine, and blood systems. The combination caused gill damage, disrupted energy metabolism, triggered oxidative stress, altered gut microbiota, and suppressed immune function. The study establishes a pollutant cascade mechanism linking tissue damage, metabolic changes, and microbial imbalance in marine organisms.
Consequences of combined exposure to thermal stress and the plasticiser DEHP in Mytilus spp. differ by sex
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Scientists found that warming waters and DEHP (a chemical used to soften plastics) affect male and female mussels differently, with males being more sensitive to heat stress and females showing changes tied to the plastic chemical. This matters because mussels are a popular seafood, and these combined stressors could disrupt their breeding cycles, potentially affecting seafood supplies as ocean temperatures rise and plastic pollution continues, while also raising questions about how DEHP exposure (which humans encounter too, through food and plastic products) might affect reproductive health more broadly.
Short-Term Exposure to MPs and DEHP Disrupted Gill Functions in Marine Bivalves
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Researchers found that short-term exposure to polypropylene microplastics and the plasticizer DEHP disrupted gill functions in two marine clam species, with combined exposure producing synergistic toxic effects on filtration rates and antioxidant enzyme activity.
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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.