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Non-destructive biomarkers can reveal effects of the association of microplastics and pharmaceuticals or personal care products
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Non-destructive biomarkers in crabs were evaluated to assess the combined effects of microplastics with pharmaceuticals and personal care products, finding measurable biological responses to co-exposure that could be detected without sacrificing the animals. The study demonstrates the utility of non-lethal sampling approaches for monitoring microplastic mixture toxicity in marine invertebrates.
Methods to assess the effects of contaminants on marine organisms typically involve euthanasia to obtain samples, but less invasive techniques may be more appropriate for working with threatened species. In this study, were assessed the biological responses of crabs exposed to microplastics and contaminants of emerging concern. Biochemical and cellular effects (lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, cholinesterase activity, and lysosomal membrane stability) in hemolymph were analyzed in a kinetic study, at 3 and 7 days, in U. cordatus exposed to microplastics spiked with Triclosan (TCS) or 17α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2). The results showed that the contaminants were produced toxic effects in the crabs exposed either to the microplastics alone (oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity), or to microplastics with TCS or EE2 adsorbed (neurotoxic and cytotoxic). The present study showed the responsiveness of non-lethal analyzes to understanding the biological effects of combined exposure to microplastics and chemical pollution.
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Crabs (Ucides cordatus) exposed to microplastics contaminated with triclosan or 17α-ethinylestradiol showed histological gill changes more severe than those from virgin microplastics alone, demonstrating that pharmaceutical and personal care product contaminants adsorbed on MPs increase tissue-level toxicity.
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