We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on the growth and nutritional profile of Raphidocelis subcapitata
Summary
Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on the growth and nutritional profile of the freshwater green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata, examining whether co-exposure to these two contaminants produces interactive toxicity effects beyond individual exposures.
Currently the global concern with microplastic's pollution in freshwater systems has been increasing. These small particles (¡ 5 mm) have many characteristics (e.g., ubiquity, abundance) that allow them to persist several years in the environment and negatively interact with distinct organisms including humans. In fact, they can interact either isolated or combined with other chemicals compounds (e.g., metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) acting as vectors of these contaminants into organisms' body. Whilst the impacts of microplastics' single exposure have been more documented, studies providing insights into the combination of microplastics-contaminants in freshwater systems are still scarce. Likewise, the evaluation of the combined toxicity on primary producers have been overlooked. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the single impacts of polystyrene microspheres (1 µm) and in combination with copper on the growth and nutritional profile (i.e., fatty acids and carbohydrates abundance and composition) of the standard freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. A fixed concentration of polystyrene was defined (0.5 p mL-1), which was tested individually or in combination with four concentrations of copper (0.055 mg L-1 – concentration below EC10; 0.092 mg L-1 – EC10; 0.155 mg L-1 – EC20; and 0.378 mg L-1 – EC50). All the chosen concentrations are environmentally relevant and these ECx values were extracted from a previous study. Results pointed-out that the isolated polystyrene and when combined with copper did not significantly affect the microalgae growth. Regarding the nutritional profile, this study found evidence of impacts of PS and PS-Cu combination on the nutritional profile, namely on fatty acids and carbohydrates composition and abundance. Polystyrene combined with PS caused a decreased in the total fatty acids' abundance, while there was not a clear tendency of total carbohydrates decreasing. Moreover, there was a decreasing of MUFAs (C18:1) and Glucose+Galactose, and an increasing of SFA and Rhamnose. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427344/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Combined effects of nanoplastics and copper on the freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata
Researchers found that carboxylated polystyrene nanoplastics do not adsorb copper ions or alter copper toxicity to freshwater algae in short- or long-term tests, but that nanoplastics do attach to algal cell walls and cause morphological changes — highlighting the importance of prolonged exposures and multiple endpoints in nanoplastic toxicity assessments.
Single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis: Perspectives from growth inhibition, chlorophyll content and oxidative stress
Researchers investigated the single and combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on the marine microalga Platymonas helgolandica. The study found that copper alone inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, while nanoplastics modified copper's bioavailability and altered the combined toxic response. The results suggest that the interaction between nanoplastics and heavy metals can produce complex toxicity patterns that differ from individual exposures.
Influence of polystyrene microplastic and nanoplastic on copper toxicity in two freshwater microalgae
Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics affect the toxicity of copper to two freshwater microalgae species over extended exposure periods. They found that microplastics generally reduced copper toxicity by adsorbing copper ions, while nanoplastics had more variable effects depending on concentration and algal species. The study highlights that the size of plastic particles plays an important role in how they modify the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic environments.
Effects of polystyrene microplastics on copper toxicity to the protozoan Euglena gracilis: emphasis on different evaluation methods, photosynthesis, and metal accumulation
Polystyrene microplastics altered the toxicity of copper to the protozoan Euglena gracilis, with effects on photosynthesis and metal accumulation showing that microplastics can either enhance or reduce copper toxicity depending on exposure concentration and duration.
Inhibitory Effect of Combined Exposure to Copper Ions and Polystyrene Microplastics on the Growth of Skeletonema costatum
Researchers examined how copper ions and polystyrene microplastics individually and together affect the growth of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum. The study found that microplastics can adsorb copper ions, temporarily reducing copper toxicity to algal cells, but over longer exposure periods the inhibitory effects of microplastics themselves counteracted that benefit.