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Are mixtures of micro/nanoplastics more toxic than individual micro or nanoplastic contamination in the clam Ruditapes decussatus?
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Researchers exposed clams to polystyrene nanoplastics and polyethylene microplastics, both separately and in combination, to test whether mixtures are more harmful. They found that nanoplastics accumulated more readily in clam tissues and that the mixture caused greater oxidative stress and cellular damage than either type of plastic alone. The study suggests that real-world exposure to multiple plastic particle sizes may be more harmful than exposure to a single type.
The abundance of micro (MPs) and nano (NPs) sized plastic particles in the ocean is concerning due to their harmful effects on marine life. The interactions between MPs and NPs in the marine environment and their impact on marine biota remain not fully understood. This study contributes with new insights into the interaction between polystyrene NPs (PSNPs) and polyethylene MPs (PEMPs) on the clam Ruditapes decussatus. Results showed ingestion of MPs and NPs by clams, with PSNPs demonstrating higher toxicity in hemolymph. While no genotoxicity was observed, clams treated with MPs and the mixture showed increased acetylcolinesterase (AchE) activity over time. Additionally, the antioxidant defense system mitigated oxidative stress, suggesting effective neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Hazard assessment indicated the greatest impact on clam digestive glands after ten days of exposure, with an antagonistic interaction between MPs and NPs noted.
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Exploring the effect of microparticles on bivalves: Exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Ruditapes philippinarum to both microplastics and silt
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Researchers exposed mussels and clams to polyethylene microplastics, natural silt particles, and a combination of both, finding that the mixture caused significantly worse mortality and oxidative stress than either substance alone. Clams were more sensitive to microplastic exposure than mussels, while mussels retained more microplastics in their tissues. The study reveals that the combined presence of natural sediment particles and microplastics in coastal waters creates synergistic harmful effects on filter-feeding shellfish that are greater than the sum of individual exposures.
Effects of nanoplastics on clam Ruditapes philippinarum at environmentally realistic concentrations: Toxicokinetics, toxicity, and gut microbiota
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Researchers exposed clams to nanoplastics at concentrations found in real marine environments and tracked how the particles accumulated in their tissues over 14 days. The nanoplastics caused physical damage and significantly altered the clams' gut bacteria. This is concerning because clams are widely consumed seafood, meaning nanoplastic contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and human food sources.
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and PCB77 induced oxidative stress, histopathological damage and intestinal microbiota disruption in white hard clam Meretrix lyrata
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Researchers exposed white hard clams to nanoplastics and a type of industrial pollutant called PCB77, both individually and together, and found that the combination caused more severe damage than either pollutant alone. The clams showed increased oxidative stress, tissue damage in their gills and digestive glands, and significant disruption of their gut bacteria. The findings suggest that nanoplastics may worsen the toxic effects of other environmental contaminants in shellfish.
Single and combined effects of phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on oxidative stress of the clam (Mactra veneriformis)
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Researchers tested the single and combined toxic effects of the pollutant phenanthrene and polystyrene microplastics on the clam Mactra veneriformis. The study found that both pollutants individually caused oxidative stress, but when combined, larger microplastics amplified the toxicity of phenanthrene, with phenanthrene remaining the dominant toxic factor in joint exposures.
The combined effects of phenanthrene and micro-/nanoplastics mixtures on the cellular stress responses of the thick-shell mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Scientists exposed thick-shell mussels to a combination of micro- and nanoplastics along with a common pollutant (phenanthrene) to study their combined effects. The mixtures caused more severe immune cell damage, increased oxidative stress, and stronger inflammatory responses than either pollutant alone. Evidence indicates that micro- and nanoplastics can worsen the toxic effects of organic pollutants in marine shellfish.
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