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Polystyrene nanoplastics affected the nutritional quality of Chlamys farreri through disturbing the function of gills and physiological metabolism: Comparison with microplastics
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Researchers exposed scallops to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at environmentally realistic levels and found that both sizes reduced the protein content and overall quality of the edible muscle. Nanoplastics caused more damage than microplastics, disrupting gill function, metabolism, and triggering oxidative stress through mitochondrial damage pathways. This study shows that plastic pollution could reduce the nutritional value of commercially harvested shellfish that people eat.
Although microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become a global concern because of their possible hazards to marine organisms, few studies have investigated the effects of MPs/NPs on the nutritional quality of marine economic species, and the toxicity mechanisms remain unclear. We therefore investigated the effects of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs, 5 μm) and NPs (PS-NPs, 100 nm) at an environmentally relevant concentration on adult scallops Chlamys farreri through the determination of nutritional composition, physiological metabolism, enzymatic response, and histopathology. Results showed that plastic particles significantly decreased the plumpness (by 33.32 % for PS-MPs and 36.69 % for PS-NPs) and protein content of the adductor muscle (by 4.88 % for PS-MPs and 8.77 % for PS-NPs) in scallops, with PS-NPs causing more notable impacts than PS-MPs. Based on the integrated biomarker response analysis, PS-NPs exhibited greater toxicity than PS-MPs, suggesting a size-dependent effect for plastic particle. Furthermore, PS-NPs significantly affected the physiological metabolism (e.g., filtration and ammonia excretion) than PS-MPs. Using gill transcriptomics analysis, the key toxicological mechanisms caused by NPs exposure included enrichment of the mitophagy pathway, responses to oxidative stress, and changes related to genes associated with nerves. This study provides new insights into the potential negative effects of MPs/NPs on the mariculture industry.
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect the nutritional quality of marine jacopever fish (Sebastes schlegelii), finding that nanoplastics reduced nutritional quality more severely than microplastics. Despite no notable impact on intestinal microbiota function, both particle types impaired lipid and protein metabolism pathways.
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to 5 µm microplastics and 0.1 µm nanoplastics and found that both triggered oxidative stress, disrupted cytoskeletal proteins, and impaired oocyte maturation, with nanoplastics causing more severe suppression of egg cell proliferation and higher rates of cell death — raising concerns for coastal mollusk reproductive health.
Polystyrene micro and nanoplastics: A comparative study of the cytotoxic effects exerted on Mytilus galloprovincialis gills
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Researchers compared the toxic effects of micro-sized and nano-sized polystyrene particles on the gills of Mediterranean mussels. Both sizes caused oxidative damage, tissue alterations, and immune responses, but nanoplastics consistently produced more severe effects. The findings suggest that smaller plastic particles pose a greater threat to the gill function of filter-feeding shellfish, potentially impairing their ability to collect food and breathe.
The physiological response of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum and scallop Chlamys farreri to varied concentrations of microplastics exposure
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Researchers exposed two types of shellfish (clams and scallops) to polyethylene and PET microplastics and found that both species accumulated the particles in their digestive glands and gills. The exposure caused oxidative stress, disrupted energy and fat metabolism, and damaged tissue, with PET generally being more toxic than polyethylene. Since these are commonly eaten shellfish, the findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination affecting the safety of seafood for human consumers.
Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics hampers the cellular function of gills in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
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Even short-term exposure (72 hours) to polystyrene microplastics disrupted gill function in Mediterranean mussels, a species commonly eaten by humans. The microplastics accumulated in gill tissue and caused metabolic disorders including changes in energy production, nerve signaling, and salt balance, along with oxidative stress. Since mussels are filter feeders that concentrate microplastics from seawater, these findings raise questions about the quality of shellfish as human food.
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