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Chronic effects of irregular and fibril microplastics on Artemia franciscana in a benthic environment: Size and shape-dependent toxicity
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Researchers studied how irregular and fibril-shaped microplastics of various sizes affect brine shrimp in a simulated seafloor environment over an extended period. They found that the smallest irregular particles and longer fibers caused the most significant reproductive and growth effects. The study demonstrates that both the size and shape of microplastics matter when assessing their impact on bottom-dwelling marine organisms.
Marine ecosystems are contaminated by plastic products, particularly microplastics (MPs), which settle on the seafloor and affect benthic organisms. This study explores the toxicity of irregular fibril-shaped MPs of various sizes and lengths on Artemia franciscana. We exposed juvenile A. franciscana to irregular-shaped MPs of three sizes, small (<20 μm), medium (40-70 μm), and large (>120 μm), and MP fibers of two length categories, short (200-300 μm) and long (3 mm), in a sand-layered benthic system. The concentrations of the MPs were maintained at 0.05-20 mg/L, and the study was conducted over a 28-d of chronic period. Among all the MPs considered in this study, the small and short MPs exerted the most severe effects (causing mortality, growth inhibition, gut damage, alterations in movement, and a decrease in positive phototaxis). Our study highlights the importance of considering the morphological characteristics of MPs for analyzing their toxicity to aquatic eco-receptors.
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Size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the benthic crustacean Artemia franciscana
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Researchers tested how different sizes and shapes of PET microplastics affect juvenile brine shrimp in a sand-layered system simulating the ocean floor. Small fragments that could be ingested caused gut damage and impaired movement, while larger fragments and fibers triggered cell death through physical stress. The findings indicate that the shape and size of microplastics are major factors in determining their harmful effects on bottom-dwelling marine organisms.
Comparative impacts of fragmented versus spherical microplastics on the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus: Multigenerational chronic toxicity and multi-omics perspective
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This study found that the shape of microplastic particles matters more than their size when it comes to toxicity. Small, jagged fragments caused more harm to tiny marine animals called rotifers than smooth round beads, reducing their ability to reproduce and shortening their lifespan across multiple generations. The findings suggest that irregularly shaped microplastics, which are the most common type found in the environment, may be more dangerous than the smooth spheres typically used in lab studies.
Prepared microplastics interaction with Artemia salina under low pH conditions representing ocean acidification; a simulated environmental exposure
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Researchers tested how microplastics interact with brine shrimp under acidic conditions that mimic ocean acidification, using irregularly shaped plastic fragments that resemble real-world pollution rather than uniform lab-made spheres. They found that the combination of low pH and microplastics affected the animals' survival and behavior differently than either stressor alone. The study highlights the importance of testing realistic microplastic shapes when evaluating environmental risks.
Impacts of nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana larvae: effects on growth and proteins responses
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This laboratory study found that nanoplastic particles reduced growth and feeding rates in Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp) larvae in a dose-dependent manner. The results demonstrate that nanoplastics — the smallest and potentially most biologically active plastic particles — can harm early-life-stage marine crustaceans at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Size- and shape-dependent effects of microplastic particles on adult daggerblade grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)
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Researchers exposed adult grass shrimp to eleven sizes of microplastic spheres, fibers, and fragments and measured effects on survival, ingestion, and particle residence time. They found that mortality was size- and shape-dependent, with larger spheres and fibers causing the highest death rates, while particles smaller than 50 micrometers were not acutely toxic. The study demonstrates that both the size and shape of microplastics are critical factors in determining their toxicity to marine crustaceans.
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