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In vivo visualization of environmentally relevant microplastics and evaluation of gut barrier damages in Artemia franciscana
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Researchers developed non-destructive imaging methods to visualize the uptake of environmentally relevant irregularly-shaped microplastics in brine shrimp. The study found that high-density polyethylene particles accumulated in the gut and caused barrier damage, providing direct visual evidence of how realistic microplastic shapes affect small aquatic organisms.
Although irregularly-shaped label-free microplastics (MPs) are predominantly distributed in the environment, non-destructive analysis of environmentally relevant MPs in organisms is still challenging. The purpose of the study is to suggest in vivo visual evidence of the uptake and effect of environmentally relevant MPs in organism. Transparent irregularly-shaped high-density polyethylene was selected as an environmentally relevant model MP and exposed to brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana). As a result, we suggest the application of SEM/EDX and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy as complementary tools to secure in vivo visual evidence of irregularly-shaped unlabeled MPs in living organisms without chemical digestion for biodistribution observations. Biological transmission electron microscopy also provides how ingested MPs physically affects the digestive tract in the brine shrimp which is rarely reported. In terms of environmental implications, this study would advance ecotoxicological research on microplastic pollution by providing a cutting-edge tool for investigating the bioavailability and ecotoxicity of environmentally relevant MPs in ecosystems.
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The uptake and elimination of polystyrene microplastics by the brine shrimp, Artemia parthenogenetica, and its impact on its feeding behavior and intestinal histology
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Researchers studied the uptake, elimination, and intestinal effects of polystyrene microplastics on brine shrimp larvae. They found that the larvae ingested microplastics at rates dependent on concentration, exposure time, and food availability, and that the particles caused intestinal damage. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination can harm the health and feeding behavior of zooplankton larvae, which are critical components of marine food webs.
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.
Assessing the Biodistribution and Toxicity of Fluorescently Dyed Nano-Polystyrene in Artemia salina Nauplii
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Researchers tracked the distribution and toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics in brine shrimp, a key model organism for ecotoxicology. They found that nanoplastics accumulated in the gut and, at higher concentrations, caused gut deformities, with the lethal concentration decreasing by nearly half between 24 and 48 hours of exposure. The findings suggest that nanoplastics may also impair the salt gland, affecting osmoregulation and energy allocation in marine organisms.
Screening study of four environmentally relevant microplastic pollutants: Uptake and effects on Daphnia magna and Artemia franciscana
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Researchers exposed Daphnia water fleas and brine shrimp to four real-world microplastic types from consumer products, finding that smaller particles were ingested more readily by daphnids, that gut accumulation depended on particle size, and that while no acute lethality occurred, brine shrimp growth was impaired.
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.
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