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Using marine mussels to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of two different commercial microplastics
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Researchers exposed marine mussels to polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics for up to 28 days to evaluate ecotoxicological effects. They measured feeding rates, condition index, and various biochemical markers related to metabolism and oxidative stress. The study found measurable changes in the mussels' biological responses, suggesting that these common types of microplastics can affect the health of filter-feeding organisms in marine environments.
Microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic environment pose a serious threat to biota, by being confounded with food. These effects occur in mussels which are filter-feeding organisms. Mussels from the genus Mytilus sp. were used to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of two MPs, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), after 4 and 28-days. Measured individual endpoints were condition index and feeding rate; and sub-individual parameters, metabolism of phase I (CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4) and II (glutathione S-transferases - GSTs), and antioxidant defense (catalase - CAT). MPs decreased both condition index (CI) and feeding rate (FR). No alterations occurred in metabolic enzymes, suggesting that these MPs are not metabolized by these pathways. Furthermore, lack of alterations in GSTs and CAT activities suggests the absence of conjugation and oxidative stress. Overall, biochemical markers were not responsive, but non-enzymatic responses showed deleterious effects caused by these MPs, which may be of high ecological importance.
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