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Combined toxicity of microplastic and lead on submerged macrophytes
Summary
Researchers tested the combined toxicity of microplastics and lead on two species of submerged aquatic plants over five days. They found that lead alone reduced photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, and sugar content while increasing oxidative stress markers, and microplastics aggravated lead toxicity on certain parameters in a species-specific manner. The study suggests that microplastics may enhance heavy metal toxicity in aquatic plants, with effects varying between species.
Microplastic pollution has become ubiquitous due to industrialization and wide use of plastic products. The continuous discharge of microplastics into aquatic ecosystems, combined with different toxic chemicals can create serious environmental pollution. Lead is an extremely toxic metal which can strongly adsorb to microplastics, however, little is known about their combined toxicity on submerged macrophytes. To test our hypothesis that microplastic can aggravate lead toxicity on submerged macrophytes, we designed a five-day hydroponic experiment to explore the toxic effects of microplastic and lead alone, and in combination, on Potamogeton crispus and Vallisneria denseserrulata. Photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm and ETRmax), soluble sugar, protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) declined with increasing lead concentration alone and in the combined treatment. In both submerged macrophytes, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lead bioaccumulation increased with increasing lead concentration. However, microplastic aggravated lead toxicity on chlorophyll a and SOD activity in P. crispus only under the highest lead concentration. In conclusion, lead alone and combined exposure caused a series of toxic effects on physio-biochemical traits of submerged macrophytes that appeared to be synergistic and species-specific. Our comprehensive results have important implications for appropriate management of microplastics and lead alone, or in combination, for submerged macrophytes.
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