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Effects of micro‐ and nanoplastics on the physiology and metabolism of Portunus trituberculatus
Summary
Researchers exposed the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and assessed physiological and metabolic responses across different tissues, finding that while lethal effects were minimal, MNPs triggered significant stress responses. Nanoplastics produced more severe effects than microplastics, with tissue-specific differences in enzyme reactions suggesting differential organ-level sensitivity to MNP contamination.
Abstract Portunus trituberculatus is important in coastal benthic communities and a favorite seafood for coastal residents. However, microplastics have been detected in different tissues of P. trituberculatus , but the toxicological effects of micro‐ and nanoplastics (MNPs) on the different tissues of P. trituberculatus have not been reported. We found that the lethal effect of MNPs on P. trituberculatus is not obvious, but they can stimulate the body's stress response. The responses of P. trituberculatus tissues to MNPs are different, which may be due to differences in enzyme reactions between tissues and organs. Compared with microplastics (MPs), nanoplastics (NPs) have a more significant physiological and metabolic stress effect on P. trituberculatus because of their smaller particle size. In summary, plastic particles have physiological stress effects on the physiological metabolism of P. trituberculatus , which may be closely related to the plastic's particle size and concentration.
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