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Chronic toxicity of biodegradable microplastic (Polylactic acid) to Daphnia magna: A comparison with polyethylene terephthalate

Aquatic Toxicology 2023 46 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Joorim Na, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Gersan An, Gersan An, Joorim Na, Gersan An, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Gersan An, Jinyoung Song, Jinho Jung Jinyoung Song, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Jinyoung Song, Joorim Na, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Jinyoung Song, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Joorim Na, Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Gersan An, Jinho Jung Jinyoung Song, Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinyoung Song, Gersan An, Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinyoung Song, Joorim Na, Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Jinho Jung Joorim Na, Jinho Jung Jinho Jung

Summary

Scientists compared the toxicity of biodegradable PLA microplastics with conventional PET microplastics on water fleas and found that PLA was actually more harmful. At higher concentrations, PLA microplastics killed nearly half the organisms, reduced reproduction, and increased birth defects more than PET particles did. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer for the environment, suggesting they may pose similar or even greater ecological risks than conventional plastics.

Polymers

PE PET PLA

Models

Daphnia

The increase in the usage of biodegradable microplastics (MPs) as an alternative to conventional plastics has necessitated comprehensive ecotoxicity assessments of biodegradable MPs alongside conventional MPs. This study aimed to assess ecotoxicity of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MPs at concentration of 1 and 5 mgL including a genetic analysis of Daphnia magna, and compared to effects of conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs. The survival rate for D. magna exposed to 5 mg L of PLA-MPs declined to 52.4 %, signifying a higher rate of mortality when contrasted with PET-MPs, which exhibited 85.7 % survival rate. Chronic exposure to 1 and 5 mgL PLA-MPs resulted in a decrease of offspring, while increasing the sex ratio and deformed embryo. Interestingly, down-regulation of the SOD and AK genes was observed in D. magna after exposure to 5 mgL of PLA-MPs, while 1 mgL of PLA-MPs up-regulated. These results means that 5 mgL PLA-MP could not produce energy and cope with oxidative stress, resulting in high mortality, and 1 mgL of MP was maintained survival due to energy production and antioxidant action. This study contributes to our understanding of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) toxic effects on D. magna which could be similar to conventional MPs and provide the importance of ecotoxicological data for risk assessment of BMPs in aquatic organisms.

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