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Combined toxicity of microplastic fibers and dibutyl phthalate on algae: Synergistic or antagonistic?
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This study found that when microplastic fibers and the plasticizer DBP (a chemical commonly added to plastics) are combined, they cause more damage to freshwater algae than either pollutant alone. The combination produced a synergistic toxic effect, meaning the harm was greater than simply adding the effects of each pollutant together. Since both microplastic fibers and plasticizers are widespread in freshwater environments, their combined presence could threaten the base of aquatic food chains.
Plastics, combined with plasticizers, have been widely utilized worldwide. Microplastic fibers (MPFs) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) account for the most predominant microplastics and plasticizers detected in freshwater ecosystem, with their joint toxicity being limited studied. In this study, we employed freshwater algae (Chlorella vulgaris) as toxicity test model organism to assess their growth, photosynthesis, metabolism, and oxidative response when exposing to different concentrations of polypropylene MPFs and the co-exposure of DBP. In addition, the toxic interaction between MPFs and DBP was assessed by combining the integrated toxicity value (Integrated Biomarker Response version 2, IBRv2) and the mixture toxicity index (Effect Addition Index, EAI). Our results demonstrated significant toxic effects of MPFs and DBP on C. vulgaris, and highlighted their dynamic interactions with C. vulgaris. Specifically, when combining with DBP, MPFs with high concentrations exhibited significantly increase in algae growth inhibition, photosynthetic pigment contents (Chl-a, Chl-b, and carotenoids), protein contents, and oxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT, and MDA). In terms of integrated toxicity values, higher IBRv2 values were recorded by the combined exposure of MPFs and DBP in contrast with the sole exposure groups, indicating that the combined exposure caused more severe damage to photosynthesis, oxidation and metabolism. In addition, our study recorded synergistic combined toxicity when MPFs were in high concentrations, whereas antagonistic combined toxicity when MPFs were in low concentrations. Our study highlights the MPFs concentration-dependent combined toxicity (synergistic or antagonistic) when exposing to microplastics and plasticizers in freshwater ecosystems.
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Researchers investigated the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate on the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. They found that smaller microplastics were more toxic than larger ones, and the interaction between microplastics and the plasticizer ranged from additive to antagonistic depending on concentration. At higher microplastic levels, the particles actually reduced the bioavailability of the plasticizer, partially offsetting its toxic effects.
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This review examines how microplastics and pharmaceutical or personal care product residues interact when they co-occur in aquatic environments and affect algae. Researchers found that the combined effects can be either antagonistic or synergistic depending on factors like microplastic size, charge, and the type of chemical involved. The study identifies the type of pharmaceutical compound and the species of algae as the most important factors determining whether these pollutant combinations cause greater or lesser harm.
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