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Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on juvenile Lates calcarifer: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant response, microbiome, and proteome alteration
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Researchers found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics from plastic bags caused bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, microbiome disruption, and proteome alterations in juvenile barramundi, indicating that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine organisms.
Discarded plastic bag is a main component of marine debris, posing potential threats to marine biota. This study was conducted to assess the potential effects of microplastics on juvenile Lates calcarifer. Fish were exposed via diet to two microplastic types from conventional polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable (Bio) plastic bags for 21 days. Antioxidative enzymes activity, intestinal microbiome and proteome were determined. PE and Bio microplastics were found to accumulate in gastrointestinal tracts, and no mortality was observed. Microplastics exposure did not induce significant antioxidant response except for the glutathione reductase (GR) modulation. Intestinal microbiome diversity decreased significantly in PE group based on Simpson index. Both types of microplastics induced proteome modulation by down-regulating proteins associated with immune homeostasis. Bio microplastics maintained higher intestinal microbial diversity and induced more proteins alteration than PE microplastics. This study provides toxicological insights into the impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on juvenile L. calcarifer.
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Effects of microplastic fibers on Lates calcarifer juveniles: Accumulation, oxidative stress, intestine microbiome dysbiosis and histological damage
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Researchers fed juvenile barramundi fish polyethylene microplastic fibers for 56 days and found that while the fibers did not affect growth, they induced intestinal oxidative stress and disrupted the gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus species were significantly reduced, while overall microbial diversity declined. The study suggests that microplastic fiber ingestion can compromise intestinal health in marine fish even without observable effects on growth.
A review on fate and ecotoxicity of biodegradable microplastics in aquatic system: Are biodegradable plastics truly safe for the environment?
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This review examines whether biodegradable plastics are truly safe for aquatic environments, finding that they can break down into microplastics faster than conventional plastics and cause comparable or even greater harm to algae, invertebrates, and fish. The findings suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics alone will not solve the microplastic pollution problem, and these particles can still enter the human food chain through contaminated seafood.
Effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on the intestine, intestinal community composition, and metabolic levels in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
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Researchers exposed tilapia fish to both biodegradable (PLA) and conventional (PVC) microplastics for 14 days and compared the effects on their intestines and gut bacteria. Both types of microplastics caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted the gut microbial community, though the specific effects differed between the two plastic types. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics may not be substantially safer for aquatic life than conventional ones.
Differential biochemical responses of Cyprinus carpio after dietary and waterborne exposure to microplastics from polyethylene-based biodegradable and conventional bags
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Researchers compared the toxic effects of microplastics from biodegradable and conventional polyethylene bags on common carp through both dietary and waterborne exposure. They found that the toxicity ranking differed depending on the exposure route, and that biodegradable plastic microplastics showed significant differences from conventional plastics, particularly in liver nitric oxide levels. The study emphasizes that both the chemical composition of microplastics and how organisms encounter them influence the resulting biological harm.
Co-occurrence of biodegradable and conventional microplastics in marketed marine fish and implications for human dietary exposure.
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Researchers studying marine fish sold for food in India found both conventional and "biodegradable" microplastics present together, including in the digestive tracts and edible tissue of some fish. This suggests biodegradable plastics do not replace conventional ones but add to overall plastic contamination. Estimated dietary intake calculations suggested children could have higher exposure than adults through eating fish.
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