We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Physiological effects and molecular response in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis after combined exposure to nanoplastics and copper
Summary
Researchers studied the combined effects of nanoplastics and copper on the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, a tiny organism important in aquatic food chains. They found that co-exposure to both pollutants decreased growth, reproduction, and lifespan more severely than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that nanoplastics may impair the rotifer's natural defense mechanisms, making it more vulnerable to metal toxicity.
Because nanoplastics (NPs) can transport pollutants, the absorption of surrounding pollutants into NPs and their effects are important environmental issues. This study shows a combined effect of high concentrations of NPs and copper (Cu) in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Co-exposure decreased the growth rate, reproduction, and lifespan. The highest level of NP ingestion was detected in the co-treated group, but the Cu concentration was higher in the Cu single-exposure group. ERK activation played a key role in the downstream cell signaling pathway activated by the interaction of NPs and Cu. The increased sensitivity of B. plicatilis to Cu could be due to the impairment of MXR function caused by a high concentration of NPs, which supports our in vivo experiment results. Our results show that exposure to NPs could induce the dysfunction of several critical molecular responses, weakening resistance to Cu and thereby increasing its physiological toxicity in B. plicatilis.