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Interactive effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on two species of marine invertebrates
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Researchers found that low-density polyethylene microplastics alone did not cause toxicity to sea urchin embryos or mysids, but their interaction with benzo[a]pyrene modified the pollutant's bioavailability and toxicity in marine invertebrates at environmentally relevant concentrations.
This study aimed to evaluate B[a]P and low-density polyethylene microplastics (MPs) toxicty, alone and in mixture (0.03 to 30 μg L of B[a]P; and 5, 50 and 500 mg L for MPs). Five mg L of MPs is considerably higher than commonly reported environmental concentrations, although it has been reported for marine environments. Individual (sea urchin embryo-larval development and mortality of mysids) and sub-individual responses (LPO and DNA damage in mysids) were assessed. The toxicity increased as the B[a]P concentration increased, and microplastics alone did not cause toxicity. B[a]P toxicity was not modified by the lowest concentration of MPs (5 mg L), but at higher MPs concentrations (50 and 500 mg L), the effects of B[a]P on sea urchin development and in biomarkers in mysids were diminished. Microplastics interacted with B[a]P in seawater, reducing its toxicity, probably due to adsorption of B[a]P to the surface of microplastics.
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Researchers assessed the combined toxicity of environmental microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor under realistic exposure conditions, finding that microplastics can modulate the bioavailability and toxic effects of co-occurring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to environmentally collected microplastics from a beach, both alone and combined with the pollutant benzo[a]pyrene, at ecologically relevant concentrations. The study found that even short-term exposure caused cellular and molecular responses in the mussels, and the combination of microplastics with chemical pollutants produced different effects than either contaminant alone.
Microplastics do not increase toxicity of a hydrophobic organic chemical to marine plankton
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Sea urchin larvae actively ingested polyethylene microplastics at rates comparable to natural food particles, but co-exposure with a hydrophobic organic contaminant did not increase toxicity compared to contaminant alone. The results suggest that at tested concentrations, microplastics do not significantly amplify the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants to marine plankton.
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics interact with the toxic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene in marine mussels. The study found that the presence of microplastics actually reduced the accumulation and toxicity of benzo[a]pyrene by approximately 6.7%, likely because the microplastics adsorbed the chemical pollutant and reduced its bioavailability in the water.
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