We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Multi-generation exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics showed no major adverse effects in Daphnia magna
Summary
Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia magna) to polystyrene nanoplastics across four consecutive generations and found no major adverse effects on survival, growth, or reproduction. While the organisms did accumulate nanoplastics, the particles did not appear to cause significant harm over multiple generations. The study suggests that some aquatic organisms may be more resilient to long-term nanoplastic exposure than previously thought.
Long-term impacts of plastics exposure to organisms, especially to the smallest plastics fraction, nanoplastics (NPs; ≤1 μm), are yet to be fully understood. The data concerning multiple generations are especially rare - an exposure scenario that is the most relevant from the standpoint of environmental reality aspect. Using Pd-doped 200 nm polystyrene NPs, which allowed for quantification of NPs in trace concentrations, the aim of the study was to evaluate the multigenerational impact of NPs for the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna. Four consecutive 21-day exposures involving F0-F3 generations of D. magna were conducted according to OECD211. NPs impact (at 0.1 mg/L and 1 mg/L) was assessed in parallel to a comparative particle mesoporous SiO of similar size and shape (at 1 mg/L) to deconvolute impacts of variable particle chemistry. D. magna mortality, reproductive endpoints, body length (adults and offspring) and lipid content (offspring) were assessed upon NPs and SiO exposures. NPs association with adults and offspring was quantified by ICP-MS through the NPs Pd-dopant. The results showed no NPs impact on D. magna at 0.1 mg/L. At 1 mg NPs/L, the only statistically significant effect on adult organisms was increased fertility in the F3 generation. Conversely, SiO induced 80% mortality in F3 adult D. magna and the survived adults were significantly smaller and less fertile than those of other treatments. Both particles induced decreased size and lipid content in F3 offspring. The average NPs body burdens (ng NPs/mg D. magna dwt) for the adult and offspring D. magna were 105 ± 12 and 823 ± 440, respectively at 0.1 mg/L exposure and 503 ± 176 and 621 ± 235, respectively at 1 mg/L exposure. Finally, the results of this study add to the previous findings showing that multi-generation exposure to synthetic nano-sized particles of different chemistries may disturb the energy balance of D. magna.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Molecular, biochemical and behavioral responses of Daphnia magna under long-term exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers studied the long-term effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the water flea Daphnia magna over a 21-day exposure period at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study found molecular, biochemical, and behavioral changes even at low concentrations, suggesting that chronic exposure to nanoplastics may have significant impacts on aquatic organisms that short-term studies might miss.
Acute and chronic effects of polystyrene microplastics on juvenile and adult Daphnia magna
Researchers investigated the short- and long-term effects of polystyrene microplastics on juvenile and adult water fleas (Daphnia magna). While the particles were not acutely toxic within 48 hours, chronic exposure reduced growth, fecundity, and offspring body size. The study indicates that even at sublethal concentrations, microplastics can impair reproduction and development in this ecologically important freshwater organism.
Effects of nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentration on Daphnia pulex after exposure through multiple generations
Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia pulex) to environmentally realistic nanoplastic concentrations across three generations over 63 days. They found that while the first two generations showed mainly molecular-level stress responses, the third generation experienced reduced growth and reproduction along with suppressed antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that even very low nanoplastic concentrations can have significant long-term toxic effects that worsen across generations and may take multiple generations to recover from.
Potential for high toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to the European Daphnia longispina
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused high toxicity in three genetically distinct clones of the European water flea Daphnia longispina, highlighting the ecological hazard of nanoplastics and the importance of reporting exposure in particle count rather than mass metrics.
Potential for high toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to the European Daphnia longispina
Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia) to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that 50 nm particles were thousands of times more toxic per unit mass than 100 nm particles, with effects comparable to highly regulated toxic chemicals. The results highlight how particle size dramatically changes nanoplastic hazard and challenge the assumption that microplastics pose low ecological risk.