Not so dangerous? PET microplastics toxicity on freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are among the most important primary producers and are responsible for the production of 50-80% of the oxygen on Earth. They can be significantly affected by plastic pollution, as the vast majority of plastic waste ends up in rivers and then the oceans. This research focuses on green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris), Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), filamentous cyanobacterium Limnospira (Arthrospira) maxima (L.(A.) maxima) and how they are affected by environmentally relevant PET-MPs (polyethylene-terephtalate microplastics). Manufactured PET-MPs have asymmetric shape, size between 3 and 7 μm and were used in concentrations ranging from 5 mg/L to 80 mg/L. The highest inhibitory rate of growth was found in C. reinhardtii (-24%). Concentration-dependent changes in chlorophyll a composition were found in C. vulgaris and C. reinhardtii, not in L. (A.) maxima. Furthermore, cell damage was detected in all three organisms by CRYO-SEM (shriveling, cell wall disruption), but the cyanobacterium was the least damaged. A PET-fingerprint was detected on the surface of all tested organisms using FTIR, indicating the adherence of PET-MPs. The highest rate of PET-MPs adsorption was detected in L. (A.) maxima. Specifically, characteristic spectra were observed at ∼721, 850, 1100, 1275, 1342, and 1715 cm which are specific for functional groups of PET-MPs. Nitrogen and carbon content significantly increased in L. (A.) maxima under exposure to 80 mg/L due to the PET-MPs adherence and mechanical stress. In all three tested organisms, weak exposure-related ROS generation was detected. In general, cyanobacteria seem to be more resistant to the effects of MPs. However, organisms in the aquatic environment are exposed to MPs over a longer time scale, so it is important to use the present findings for further longer-term experiments on environmentally relevant organisms.