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Microplastics inside bodies: contamination of MPs in Phallusia nigra

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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in Phallusia nigra, a sessile marine invertebrate ascidian that filter-feeds via inhalant and exhalant siphons and commonly inhabits artificial coastal structures, harbors, and ship hulls in warm waters from Bermuda to Brazil. The study examined P. nigra as a potential bioindicator for microplastic pollution given its proximity to coastal contamination sources and existing use as a sentinel species for heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Ascídias são invertebrados marinhos sésseis, tanto solitários quanto coloniais. Possuem sifões inalantes e exalantes conectados ao cesto branquial para funções de respiração e alimentação. Esses animais habitam ambientes costeiros e estuarinos e sua distribuição é determinada pela temperatura, salinidade e hidrodinâmica. Phallusia nigra é uma espécie comum distribuída em águas quentes que vão desde Bermudas (32N) até São Sebastião, Brasil, e outras regiões como Mar Vermelho, Golfo de Áden e Golfo da Guiné. P. nigra se fixa em substratos artificiais e naturais, mas prefere plataformas de ancoragem, estruturas portuárias e cascos de navios. Esta proximidade com áreas costeiras e fontes de poluição expõe P. nigra a uma série de contaminantes. Esta espécie tem sido investigada como bioindicadora de poluição por metais pesados e compostos orgânicos. Sua potencial bioindicação para mercúrio e compostos aromáticos policíclicos foi relatada, incluindo o potente composto mutagênico 3-nitrobenzatrona e seus metabólitos. Poluição por microplásticos ( Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559695/document

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Microplastics inside bodies: contamination of MPs in Phallusia nigra

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