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Bioaccumulation and metabolism of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in coenobitid hermit crabs from marine litter-polluted beaches in remote islands
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Researchers found that hermit crabs on remote, litter-polluted island beaches bioaccumulate polybrominated diphenyl ethers from marine plastic debris, demonstrating that plastic litter serves as a source of chemical contamination even in isolated environments.
Plastic litter containing additives is potentially a major source of chemical contamination in remote areas. We investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and microplastics in crustaceans and sand from beaches with high and low litter volumes on remote islands that were relatively free of other anthropogenic contaminants. Significant numbers of microplastics in the digestive tracts, and sporadically higher concentrations of rare congeners of PBDEs in the hepatopancreases were observed in coenobitid hermit crabs from the polluted beaches than in those from the control beaches. PBDEs and microplastics were detected in high amounts in one contaminated beach sand sample, but not in other beaches. Using BDE209 exposure experiments, similar debrominated products of BDE209 in field samples were detected in the hermit crabs. The results showed that when hermit crabs ingest microplastics containing BDE209, BDE209 leaches out and migrates to other tissues where it is metabolized.
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Five small-sized Mediterranean amphipod crustacean species from coastal litter-feeder habitats were analyzed for plasticizer contamination, finding detectable levels and identifying these litter-feeding invertebrates as potential monitors of microplastic-associated chemical pollution.
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Researchers measured organochlorine pesticide concentrations in plastic pellets collected from beaches and analyzed how plastic type affects sorption of these persistent contaminants. The study shows that plastic pellets accumulate significant levels of legacy pesticides from seawater, acting as chemical sponges that can deliver concentrated toxic loads to marine organisms.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.