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Effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on the intestine, intestinal community composition, and metabolic levels in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
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Researchers exposed tilapia fish to both biodegradable (PLA) and conventional (PVC) microplastics for 14 days and compared the effects on their intestines and gut bacteria. Both types of microplastics caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted the gut microbial community, though the specific effects differed between the two plastic types. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics may not be substantially safer for aquatic life than conventional ones.
Despite growing interest in conventional microplastics (CMPs) and their toxicological effects on aquatic species, little is known about biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) and their corresponding implications for aquatic life. Here, tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) were semi-statically exposed for 14 days to the bio-based plastic polylactic acid (PLA, 100 μg/L, 2.52 ± 0.46 μm) and the petroleum-based plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 100 μg/L, 1.58 ± 0.36 μm). The results showed that ingesting the above two types of microplastics (MPs) led to oxidative stress in the fish gut, and damage to gut tissues and organelles, and PLA resulted in more obvious gut tissue edema than PVC. Furthermore, PLA caused increased levels of gut microbiota dysbiosis and a decrease in the abundance of the genus Cetobacterium, which is linked to vitamin B-12 synthesis, whereas an opposite relationship was observed on PVC. Metabolomic analysis indicated that PVC caused a significant down-regulation of orotic acid, co-metabolite of folic acid with vitamin B-12, while PLA did not affect orotic acid, which may lead to the accumulation of folic acid in fish. The joint analysis found that MPs disturbed gut metabolism homeostasis, implying that abnormal gut microbiota metabolites may be a key mechanism for MPs to induce tissue damage and oxidative stress in the gut. Overall, this study systematically illustrates the differential toxic effects of BMPs and CMPs on tilapia through gut microbiota and metabolite interactions, which will contribute to assessing the risks of BMPs to organismal health.
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Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics from food containers affect mice over four weeks. They found that both types disrupted lipid metabolism and increased harmful gut bacteria, but the biodegradable PLA microplastics actually caused more severe metabolic disruption than conventional polyethylene. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be safer than traditional plastics when it comes to microplastic exposure from food packaging.
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Researchers exposed rare minnow fish to photodegraded polylactic acid microplastics to assess intestinal health effects. The study found that these biodegradable plastic particles induced visible intestinal damage, triggered inflammation through mitochondrial dysfunction, and caused oxidative stress, suggesting that even biodegradable plastics may pose ecological risks after environmental degradation.
Differential biochemical responses of Cyprinus carpio after dietary and waterborne exposure to microplastics from polyethylene-based biodegradable and conventional bags
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Researchers compared the toxic effects of microplastics from biodegradable and conventional polyethylene bags on common carp through both dietary and waterborne exposure. They found that the toxicity ranking differed depending on the exposure route, and that biodegradable plastic microplastics showed significant differences from conventional plastics, particularly in liver nitric oxide levels. The study emphasizes that both the chemical composition of microplastics and how organisms encounter them influence the resulting biological harm.
Microplastics accumulation in gut and revealing their impacts on nutritional quality and health of freshwater carp, Catla catla
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Researchers fed common carp (Catla catla) diets containing increasing concentrations of polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) — a type of biodegradable plastic — for 90 days, finding that at higher levels the fish experienced stunted growth, reduced nutrient absorption, altered blood cell counts, and intestinal tissue damage. The study demonstrates that even "biodegradable" microplastics can accumulate in fish and significantly harm their health.
Microplastics as vectors for microbial pollutants: Biofilm-associated transfer of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in zebrafish intestine
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Scientists found that microplastics coated in bacterial "biofilms" can act like tiny rafts, ferrying harmful germs and antibiotic-resistance genes into the gut, and surprisingly, "biodegradable" plastic (PLA) transferred more of these risky microbes than regular plastic (PP). This matters because it suggests eco-friendly plastics aren't necessarily safer for our health, and swallowing microplastics (through food, water, etc.) could potentially disrupt gut bacteria and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance, though this study was done in fish, not humans.
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