We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The significance of trophic transfer of microplastics in the accumulation of plastic additives in fish: An experimental study using brominated flame retardants and UV stabilizers
Summary
Researchers found that trophic transfer through food is a more significant route than direct water exposure for fish accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals, including brominated flame retardants and UV stabilizers associated with microplastics.
Marine organisms ingest microplastics directly from water and indirectly from food sources. Ingesting microplastics can lead to the accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals. However, the relative contributions of the two exposure routes to the accumulation of plastic-derived chemicals in organisms are unknown. Using microplastics containing two brominated flame retardants (BFRs; BDE209 and DBDPE) and three UV stabilizers (UVSs; UV-234, UV-327, and BP-12), we performed exposure experiments to compare chemical accumulation patterns in fish (Myoxocephalus brandti) between exposure from water and prey (Neomysis spp.). We found significantly higher concentrations of BFRs in fish fed microplastic-contaminated prey than fish exposed to microplastics in the water. However, we observed similar concentrations of UVSs in fish exposed to both sources. As BFRs are more hydrophobic than UVSs, the differences may reflect the hydrophobic nature of the additives. Our findings indicate that both exposure routes are crucial to understanding the accumulation of plastic additives in fish.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Trophic transfer of microplastics enhances plastic additive accumulation in fish
This study found that fish accumulate more plastic-associated chemical additives when they ingest microplastics from contaminated prey than from direct environmental exposure, showing that trophic transfer amplifies chemical exposure through the food chain. This has important implications for predators—including humans—who eat fish that have been feeding in plastic-contaminated environments.
Microplastics and associated contaminants in the aquatic environment: A review on their ecotoxicological effects, trophic transfer, and potential impacts to human health
This review examines how microplastics and the chemical contaminants they carry move through aquatic food chains from small organisms up to larger predators. Researchers found that microplastics can transfer toxic additives and absorbed pollutants to organisms that ingest them, with potential implications for seafood safety and ultimately human health.
Leaching of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from microplastics in fish oil: Kinetics and bioaccumulation
The leaching kinetics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from microplastics into fish oil were characterized to estimate chemical transfer to organism tissues upon ingestion. Leaching rates were contaminant- and polymer-dependent, providing mechanistic data for assessing how ingested microplastics increase exposure to inherent flame retardant additives.
Trophic transfer of nanoplastics reduces larval survival of marine fish more than waterborne exposure
This study compared direct waterborne exposure versus trophic transfer of micro- and nanoplastics on marine fish larvae, finding that trophic transfer caused significantly higher larval mortality. The results suggest that dietary uptake through the food web is a more dangerous exposure route than direct water contact for early-stage fish.
Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health
This review examines how microplastics and the chemicals they carry transfer through marine food webs from lower to higher trophic levels, and what this means for human health given that people consume marine fish and seafood. It identifies microplastics as a vector for bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in ways that ultimately reach humans.