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Exposure to polystyrene microplastics and perfluorooctane sulfonate disrupt the homeostasis of intact planarians and the growth of regenerating planarians
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This study tested how polystyrene microplastics and PFOS (a "forever chemical") affect flatworms both individually and together. The combination caused greater DNA damage, disrupted nerve development, and interfered with the worms' ability to regenerate. Since microplastics can absorb and carry chemicals like PFOS, this research highlights how plastic pollution may amplify the toxicity of other environmental contaminants.
Microplastics (MPs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) are widespread in the global ecosystem. MPs have the ability to adsorb organic contaminants such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), leading to combined effects. The current work aims to explore the individual and combined toxicological effects of polystyrene (PS) and PFOS on the growth and nerves of the freshwater planarian (Dugesia japonica). The results showed that PS particles could adsorb PFOS. PS and PFOS impeded the regeneration of decapitated planarians eyespots, whereas the combined treatment increased the locomotor speed of intact planarians. PS and PFOS caused significant DNA damage, while co-treatment with different PS concentrations aggravated and attenuated DNA damage, respectively. Further studies at the molecular level have shown that PS and PFOS affect the proliferation and differentiation of neoblasts in both intact and regenerating planarians, alter the expression levels of neuronal genes, and impede the development of the nervous system. PS and PFOS not only disrupted the homeostasis of intact planarians, but also inhibited the regeneration of decapitated planarians. This study is the first to assess the multiple toxicity of PS and PFOS to planarians after combined exposure. It provides a basis for the environmental and human health risks of MPs and PFAS.
More Papers Like This
Cellular toxicity and apoptosis-related responses to individual and combined exposure to microplastics and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in Hediste diversicolor coelomocytes.
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Marine worms (Hediste diversicolor) were exposed to microplastics and PFOS, a persistent chemical, in sediment for 7 days. Combined exposure increased PFOS buildup in body fluid and caused cell damage, DNA damage, and changes in genes linked to cell death, with effects varying by measurement and chemical dose.
Combined exposure to microplastics and PFASs on earthworms: size and concentration effects
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Researchers co-exposed earthworms to polystyrene microplastics of two sizes (30 nm and 10 µm) and PFAS compounds for 21 days, finding that combined exposure suppressed growth rates by 65% relative to controls, caused more severe intestinal and epidermal tissue damage, amplified oxidative stress markers, and disrupted gut microbiota more than either contaminant alone—with nanoscale MPs producing the strongest effects.
Sorption of PFOS onto polystyrene microplastics potentiates synergistic toxic effects during zebrafish embryogenesis and neurodevelopment
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics can absorb PFOS (a persistent industrial chemical) from water and deliver it to zebrafish embryos in a more concentrated form. The combination caused worse developmental problems than either pollutant alone, including delayed hatching, higher death rates, birth defects, and impaired brain development. This shows microplastics can act as carriers that intensify the toxic effects of other environmental chemicals.
Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and perfluorooctanoic acid can exacerbate lipid metabolism disorders and liver damage in adult zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and the persistent pollutant PFOA separately and together for 28 days, finding that combined exposure caused greater intestinal barrier breakdown, liver damage, lipid metabolism disruption, and gut microbiome dysbiosis than either contaminant alone — raising concerns about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk from co-occurring plastic and chemical pollution.
Perfluorooctanoic acid dominates the molecular-level effects of a trace mixture of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in earthworm
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Researchers exposed earthworms to individual and mixed concentrations of PFOA and PFOS, finding the mixture was not simply additive in toxicity, and that PFOA dominated the molecular-level metabolic disruptions — particularly in amino acid and energy pathways — even when both compounds were present.
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