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Sublethal effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on growth performance and survival of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Summary
Researchers exposed whiteleg shrimp to PVC microplastics over 45 days and found that even environmentally relevant concentrations reduced swimming, feeding, growth, and survival — with the highest exposure group showing only a 37% survival rate. The results highlight how microplastic pollution poses a direct threat to shrimp aquaculture productivity and food security.
This study investigated the sublethal effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics on whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), focusing on behavior, growth, feed efficiency, and survival.Whiteleg shrimp were exposed to three concentrations of PVC microplastics (3, 6, and 9 mg/L) over 45 days.Results showed that higher exposure levels reduced swimming activity and feeding response, indicating physiological stress.Microplastics accumulated significantly in the digestive tract, with the highest average (85.04 particles/individual) found at the highest exposure level.Shrimp growth, measured as changes in body length and weight, declined with increasing microplastic concentration, as did feed conversion efficiency and specific growth rate.Survival also decreased sharply, with the lowest rate (37%) observed in the highest treatment group.These findings suggest that even environmentally relevant concentrations of PVC microplastics can impair shrimp health and aquaculture productivity.The study underscores the need for stricter waste management and recommends further research into long-term effects and mitigation strategies.