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Chromium (IV) transfer to Amusium pleuronectes by LDPE microplastics: An experimental study
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Researchers demonstrated that virgin LDPE microplastics can transfer chromium(IV) to edible scallops (Amusium pleuronectes), with the heavy metal detected in both sediments and edible tissues after just five days of exposure, confirming microplastics act as vectors for heavy metal contamination in seafood.
An experiment was carried out to investigate the potential of virgin LDPE microplastics to transfer heavy metals. Desired shapes (fibres, fragments, and films) and sizes (< 5 mm) of virgin LDPE microplastics were immersed in a known concentration (30 µg/l) of chromium (IV). These Cr-coated microplastics were introduced into a culture tank containing edible scallops (Amusium pleuronectes). After the completion of the experiment (5 days), the sediments in the culture tank and edible tissues of A. pleuronectes were tested for the presence of Cr. In the sediments, a maximum concentration of 1.934 µg/g of Cr was accumulated at a rate of R = 0.979, while in the tissues, the maximum accumulation concentration was 0.733 µg/g of Cr at a rate of R = 0.807. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy analysis also confirmed the presence of Cr (2.61 ± 0.44 mass % and 1.80 ± 0.30 atom%) in the tissues of A. pleuronectes, which was absent in the control tissues. The study showed that when exposed to contaminants such as heavy metals, LDPE microplastics can adhere and transfer them to biotic tissues. LDPE showed the potential to transfer adhered contaminants; however, the effects caused by these transferred contaminants on biota must be studied further. Risk assessment study showed that potential ecological risk of Cr is < 40 indicating low risk however, the combined effect of Cr and LDPE can compound its toxicity which needs to be studied further.
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Sorptive behaviour of chromium on polyethylene microbeads in artificial seawater
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This laboratory study examined how chromium — a toxic heavy metal — adsorbs onto polyethylene microbeads in artificial seawater, finding that microplastics can accumulate chromium at concentrations far above those in surrounding water. The results support the concern that microplastics act as vectors concentrating heavy metal pollutants in marine environments.
Dietary exposure experiments on the migration of chemical pollutants from microplastics to bivalves
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Researchers conducted dietary exposure experiments to investigate how chemical pollutants migrate from microplastics to mussels. They found that mussels exposed to polyethylene microplastics accumulated significantly higher concentrations of PCBs and UV stabilizers in their tissues, particularly in reproductive organs. The study demonstrates that microplastics can serve as a pathway for transferring harmful chemical contaminants into seafood organisms.
Effects of Different Polystyrene Concentrations on the Bioaccumulation of As, Cd, and Pb in Ruditapes Philippinarum
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Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations affect the accumulation of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), finding that higher microplastic concentrations generally increased heavy metal bioaccumulation over time. The study suggests that microplastics can act as vectors that enhance heavy metal uptake in commercially harvested shellfish.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemical Contaminants Adsorbed to Microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana
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Researchers exposed clams to low-density polyethylene microplastics that had been pre-contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and measured ecotoxicological effects including oxidative stress and genotoxicity. The study found that microplastics carrying adsorbed chemical contaminants caused greater biological damage than clean microplastics alone, suggesting that the pollutant-carrier role of microplastics amplifies their environmental impact on bivalves.
The potential of microplastics as carriers of metals
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Five types of microplastics were tested for their ability to adsorb heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in different water matrices, finding significant adsorption of lead, chromium, and zinc—especially on polyethylene and PVC—with surface area and porosity as key drivers. The study identifies microplastics as potential vectors for heavy metal transport and transfer through aquatic food chains.
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