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Weathering increases the acute toxicity of plastic pellets leachates to sea-urchin larvae—a case study with environmental samples
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Researchers tested whether weathered plastic pellets collected at increasing distances from a production facility are more toxic to sea urchin larvae than fresher pellets. They found that pellets collected farther from the source, which had undergone more environmental weathering, were significantly more toxic to developing larvae. The study suggests that as plastic pellets age in the environment, they may become increasingly harmful to marine life.
Microplastics, particles under 5 mm, pervade aquatic environments, notably in Tarragona's coastal region (NE Iberian Peninsula), hosting a major plastic production complex. To investigate weathering and yellowness impact on plastic pellets toxicity, sea-urchin embryo tests were conducted with pellets from three locations-near the source and at increasing distances. Strikingly, distant samples showed toxicity to invertebrate early stages, contrasting with innocuous results near the production site. Follow-up experiments highlighted the significance of weathering and yellowing in elevated pellet toxicity, with more weathered and colored pellets exhibiting toxicity. This research underscores the overlooked realm of plastic leachate impact on marine organisms while proposes that prolonged exposure of plastic pellets in the environment may lead to toxicity. Despite shedding light on potential chemical sorption as a toxicity source, further investigations are imperative to comprehend weathering, yellowing, and chemical accumulation in plastic particles.
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Leached degradation products from beached microplastics: A potential threat to coastal dune plants
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Researchers found that leachates from beach-collected weathered microplastics were more phytotoxic than those from virgin plastics, inhibiting seed germination and root growth in coastal dune plants, suggesting naturally aged microplastics pose a greater threat to plant communities.
Effect of aging on the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
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Researchers compared the toxicity of new versus artificially aged polyethylene microplastics on an estuarine bivalve species. They found that aged microplastics, which better represent what is actually found in the environment, caused different and sometimes greater biological effects than pristine particles. The study emphasizes the importance of using environmentally realistic aged microplastics in toxicity testing rather than only new materials.
UV Dosage Unveils Toxic Properties of Weathered Commercial Bioplastic Bags
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This study found that UV weathering increased the ecotoxicity of compostable bioplastic bags — unlike conventional polyethylene, which remained non-toxic — using sea-urchin embryo tests across both indoor and outdoor mesocosm exposures. Higher UV doses caused a plastic-type-dependent regain of toxicity, likely driven by transformed additives or degradation byproducts leaching from the bioplastics.
Yellowing, Weathering and Degradation of Marine Pellets and Their Influence on the Adsorption of Chemical Pollutants
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Plastic pellets collected from marine environments were found to yellow and degrade over time due to UV exposure and weathering, and this aging process increases their ability to adsorb persistent organic pollutants. Weathered microplastics can therefore carry a higher chemical load of toxic contaminants compared to fresh plastic. This has implications for marine organisms that ingest aged plastic particles, as they may be exposed to concentrated cocktails of harmful chemicals.
Evaluation of the Toxicity of Microplastics in the Supralittoral of the Barents Sea Using Test Objects of Different Trophic Levels
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Researchers evaluated the toxicity of microplastics collected from the supralittoral zone of the Barents Sea to model organisms, finding that environmental microplastics — which carry sorbed contaminants and biofilms — were more toxic than pristine laboratory microplastics of equivalent polymer type. The results highlight the importance of using environmentally weathered particles rather than pristine plastics in ecotoxicology studies.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.