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The Role of Life Stages in the Sensitivity of Hediste diversicolor to Nanoplastics: A Case Study with Poly(Methyl)Methacrylate (PMMA)
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Researchers exposed a marine worm at different life stages to nanoplastics made of poly(methyl)methacrylate and found that juveniles were significantly more sensitive than adults. Younger organisms showed greater impacts on survival, growth, and cellular function at lower concentrations. The findings highlight that early life stages of marine invertebrates may be especially vulnerable to nanoplastic pollution.
The presence of plastic particles in oceans has been recognized as a major environmental concern. The decrease in particle size increases their ability to directly interact with biota, with particles in the nanometer size range (nanoplastics-NPs) displaying a higher ability to penetrate biological membranes, which increases with the decrease in particle size. This study aimed to evaluate the role of life stages in the effects of poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA) NPs on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor, a key species in the marine food web and nutrient cycle. Thus, behavioral (burrowing activity in clean and spiked sediment) and biochemical endpoints (neurotransmission, energy reserves, antioxidant defenses, and oxidative damage) were assessed in juvenile and adult organisms after 10 days of exposure to spiked sediment (between 0.5 and 128 mg PMMA NPs/Kg sediment). Overall, the results show that H. diversicolor is sensitive to the presence of PMMA NPs. In juveniles, exposed organisms took longer to burrow in sediment, with significant differences from the controls being observed at all tested concentrations when the test was performed with clean sediment, whereas in PMMA NP-spiked sediment, effects were only found at the concentrations 8, 32, and 128 mg PMMA NPs/Kg sediment. Adults displayed lower sensitivity, with differences to controls being found, for both sediment types, at 8, 32, and 128 mg PMMA NPs/Kg sediment. In terms of Acetylcholinesterase, used as a marker of effects on neurotransmission, juveniles and adults displayed opposite trends, with exposed juveniles displaying increased activity (suggesting apoptosis), whereas in adults, overall decreased activity was found. Energy-related parameters revealed a generally similar pattern (increase in exposed organisms) and higher sensitivity in juveniles (significant effects even at the lower concentrations). NPs also demonstrated the ability to increase antioxidant defenses (higher in juveniles), with oxidative damage only being found in terms of protein carbonylation (all tested NPs conditions) in juveniles. Overall, the data reveal the potential of PMMA NPs to affect behavior and induce toxic effects in H. diversicolor, with greater effects in juveniles.
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Effects of polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor: Behavioural, regenerative, and biochemical responses
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Exposing the marine worm Hediste diversicolor to polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics (PMMA, a common plastic used in coatings and consumer products) disrupted its burrowing behavior, suppressed nervous system activity, reduced energy reserves, and triggered antioxidant defenses. These worms are ecologically critical for seafloor nutrient cycling, so nanoplastic toxicity to them could have ripple effects throughout coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
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Researchers exposed freshwater mussels at different growth stages to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles caused intestinal damage, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted gut bacteria communities. Adult mussels were more vulnerable than younger ones, showing greater biochemical disruption at lower concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution may pose different levels of risk depending on an organism's life stage, with mature animals potentially being more susceptible.
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Researchers found that poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoplastic particles are transferred from exposed adult marine invertebrates to their offspring in both a tubeworm and barnacle species, with offspring developing protective mechanisms including reduced feeding rates and altered reproductive investment.
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