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Polystyrene microplastics increase Pb bioaccumulation and health damage in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

The Science of The Total Environment 2022 80 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Youji Wang Zhigang Yang, Youji Wang Zhigang Yang, Youji Wang Jiani Liu, Youji Wang Liangliang Zhu, Youji Wang Liangliang Zhu, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Jiani Liu, Jiani Liu, Yongxu Cheng, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Yongxu Cheng, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Aqin Chen, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Aqin Chen, Aqin Chen, Aqin Chen, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Aqin Chen, Khor Waiho, Aqin Chen, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Khor Waiho, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang

Summary

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of lead in the tissues of Chinese mitten crabs when both pollutants were present together. The combined exposure caused more severe oxidative stress, disrupted fat metabolism, and increased liver damage compared to lead exposure alone. The study suggests that microplastics can act as carriers for heavy metals in aquatic environments, amplifying their toxic effects on commercially important seafood species.

Polymers

Body Systems

Hepatic

Microplastics may be potential vectors for environmental contaminants such as heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystem due to their highly hydrophobic surfaces and fugacity property. To investigate the combined effects of microplastics with Pb, we exposed juvenile Chinese mitten crabs Eriocheir sinensis to different Pb concentrations (0, 5 and 50 μg/L) combined with microplastics (0 and 400 μg/L) for 21 days to determine the Pb bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, lipid anabolism, and histopathology of hepatopancreas. In general, the results showed that compared to single Pb exposure, the combination of MPs and Pb significantly increased the bioaccumulation of Pb, activities/content of antioxidant biomarkers and lipid metabolism enzymes, and liver injury parameters in crabs, indicating MPs are potential vector of heavy metals and co-exposure exerts more severe effects on crabs. This study provides the insights into the oxidative defense and preliminary lipid anabolism of economic crustaceans in response to combined stress of Pb and MPs.

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