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Effects of polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor: Behavioural, regenerative, and biochemical responses
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Exposing the marine worm Hediste diversicolor to polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics (PMMA, a common plastic used in coatings and consumer products) disrupted its burrowing behavior, suppressed nervous system activity, reduced energy reserves, and triggered antioxidant defenses. These worms are ecologically critical for seafloor nutrient cycling, so nanoplastic toxicity to them could have ripple effects throughout coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
Plastics, particularly microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), have been regarded as pollutants of emerging concern due to their effects on organisms and ecosystems, especially considering marine environments. However, in terms of NPs, there is still a knowledge gap regarding the effects of size and polymer on marine invertebrates, such as benthic organisms. Therefore, this study aimed to understand, regarding behavioural, physiological, and biochemical endpoints (neurotransmission, energy metabolism, antioxidant status, and oxidative damage), the effects of 50 nm waterborne polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) NPs (0.5 to 500 µg/L) on the marine benthic polychaete Hediste diversicolor, a key species in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Results demonstrated that worms exposed to PMMA NPs had a shorter burrowing time than control organisms. Nevertheless, worms exposed to PMMA NPs (0.5 and 500 µg/L) decreased cholinesterase activity. Energy metabolism was decreased at 50 and 500 µg/L, and glycogen content decreased at all concentrations of PMMA NPs. Enzymes related to the antioxidant defence system (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) displayed increased activities in H. diversicolor specimens exposed to concentrations between 0.5 and 500 µg/L, which led to no damage at the cell membrane and protein levels. In this study, polychaetes also displayed a lower regenerative capacity when exposed to PMMA NPs. Overall, the data obtained in this study emphasize the potential consequences of PMMA NPs to benthic worms, particularly between 0.5 and 50 µg/L, with polychaetes exposed to 50 µg/L being the most impacted by the analysed NPs. However, since sediments are considered to be sinks and sources of plastics, further studies are needed to better understand the impacts of different sizes and polymers on marine organisms, particularly benthic species.
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How hazardous can polymethyl methacrylate nanoparticles be to marine polychaetes?
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Researchers exposed the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor to 50 nm polymethyl methacrylate nanoplastics at concentrations from 0.5 to 500 µg/L for seven days, measuring oxidative stress enzymes, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, acetylcholinesterase, and energy metabolism endpoints. PMMA nanoplastics altered antioxidant and biotransformation enzyme activities at lower concentrations, establishing ecotoxicological effects of this understudied plastic polymer on benthic marine invertebrates.
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Researchers exposed the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor to 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and found behavioral changes and biochemical stress responses, adding to limited knowledge about the effects of sub-100 nm plastic particles on keystone benthic organisms.
The Role of Life Stages in the Sensitivity of Hediste diversicolor to Nanoplastics: A Case Study with Poly(Methyl)Methacrylate (PMMA)
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Researchers exposed a marine worm at different life stages to nanoplastics made of poly(methyl)methacrylate and found that juveniles were significantly more sensitive than adults. Younger organisms showed greater impacts on survival, growth, and cellular function at lower concentrations. The findings highlight that early life stages of marine invertebrates may be especially vulnerable to nanoplastic pollution.
Microplastics cause neurotoxicity and decline of enzymatic activities in important bioturbator Hediste diversicolor
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Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused neurotoxicity and reduced enzymatic activity in the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor, an important bioturbator, suggesting that microplastic pollution could impair critical ecological functions in coastal sediments.
Effects of Commercially Available Plastics on Estuarine Sediment Dweller Polychaeta Hediste diversicolor
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Researchers exposed the marine worm Hediste diversicolor to commercially available polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics for up to 28 days and assessed behavioral and biochemical responses. They found that the worms did not show behavioral changes or metabolize the plastics, though some enzyme activity was affected. The study suggests that these common types of microplastics do not cause major adverse effects in this sediment-dwelling species at the tested concentrations.
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