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Different impacts of oil-based and bio-based microplastics on isotopic composition and stoichiometry of a model freshwater grazer
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Controlled experiments comparing oil-based HDPE and bio-based bioplastic microplastics on Daphnia magna found both types altered isotopic composition and body stoichiometry, but bioplastics were not clearly less harmful, suggesting that the assumed environmental benefits of bioplastics for aquatic organisms require further scrutiny.
Microplastic pollution has become a pervasive environmental challenge due to their global distribution and putatively harmful effects on organisms at different ecotoxicological endpoints. However, in some cases, the effects of microplastics are similar to, or even less harmful than those of naturally occurring particles. Bioplastics, developed as a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, still have unclear effects compared with oil-based microplastics. This study uses a laboratory-controlled experiment to compare the physical effects of oil-based high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and bio-based biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) on the consumption rate, isotopic composition, respiration rate, stoichiometry, and growth rate of model freshwater snail Radix balthica. The experiment included a positive control using silica sand (Si) to simulate natural particles and a control with no experimental additions. It was hypothesised that exposure to microplastics affects the snails solely through the physical influence of the particles, and that the effects of microplastics depend on their composition. The results show that the effects of HDPE were attributable solely due to the physical presence of the particles, but this was not the case for PLA. Exposure to PLA led to increased growth (as final mass). Consumption, respiration, and growth rates were not significantly affected when exposed to the experimental additions. However, the isotopic composition and C:N of snails was altered after exposure to HDPE and Si compared with control. The isotopic composition of snails exposed to PLA did not show significant changes, but they did have higher phosphorous content in their tissues. In this study, HDPE microplastics were not more harmful than naturally occurring particles, and PLA microplastics appeared to influence growth patterns differently than expected. Further research is needed to confirm these observations and fully assess the environmental and biological implications of these contaminants.
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Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to PET and PLA microplastics at three concentrations over 21 days, assessing biochemical endpoints including oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, energy reserves, and swimming behavior. Both fossil-based PET and biobased PLA microplastics induced measurable stress responses at sub-individual and individual levels, demonstrating that bioplastics do not necessarily present a safer environmental profile than conventional polymers.
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Researchers tested the effects of microplastics made from PHB, a biodegradable plastic, on the freshwater organism Daphnia magna across multiple generations. Even biodegradable microplastics impaired reproduction, growth, and survival, with effects worsening over successive generations. This study shows that replacing conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives does not eliminate the microplastic problem, since biodegradable plastics can still produce harmful micro-sized particles.
Effects of microplastics and natural particles on the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna under different dietary quality scenarios
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Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to both natural particles—including sediment, algae, and biofilm—and polystyrene microplastics to compare their effects, finding that natural particles caused similar or greater harm than microplastics at equivalent concentrations, highlighting the need for environmental context in MP toxicity studies.
Effects of petroleum-based and biopolymer-based nanoplastics on aquatic organisms: A case study with mechanically degraded pristine polymers
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Researchers compared the toxicity of nanoplastics made from three petroleum-based plastics and one bio-based plastic (PLA) on freshwater organisms. All four types of nanoplastics caused toxic effects, but the bio-based PLA nanoplastics were not necessarily safer than conventional ones. The study suggests that switching to bio-based plastics may not eliminate the problem of nanoplastic toxicity in aquatic environments.
Effects of Petroleum and Bio-micro(nano)plastics on Aquatic Organisms
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This review compared the ecotoxicological effects of fossil-based and bio-based micro/nanoplastics on aquatic organisms, finding that bioplastics can degrade into micro/nanoplastics and release harmful additives and monomers. Available data suggest bioplastics may cause similar or sometimes greater harm than conventional plastics.
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