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Evaluation of toxicological impacts of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) microplastics on fish, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790), Cochin estuary, India
Summary
Researchers found that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics caused significant toxic effects in a commercially important estuarine fish in India, including oxidative stress and tissue damage even at environmentally relevant concentrations. These findings raise concerns for the safety of seafood from microplastic-contaminated coastal waters.
Microplastics are emerging contaminants in aquatic environments, and there is a global concern about the impact of this pollutant on the ecosystem. In the present study, the toxicological impacts of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC MPs) on the fish Etroplus suratensis, the state fish of Kerala, were carried out. Acute and chronic toxicity tests of PVC MPs were conducted for juvenile fishes. The 10-day half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) was found after the acute toxicity test. Quantification of MPs in the intestine and faecal matter, parameters of oxidative stress [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and catalase (CAT)], brain and gill acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, behavioural changes, and blood biomarkers (red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) count) were analysed after chronic toxicity test. The 10-day half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of PVC MPs on E. suratensis was 34.89 mg L−1 with a 95% confidence interval of 31.43 to 38.59. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and catalase (CAT) showed significant changes upon MP exposure. The brain and gill acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity showed a dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.001). The frequency of behavioural changes such as fin flickering, burst swimming, and jerking movement increased with increased exposure concentration. The haematological indices like red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) count showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001) at the highest exposure concentration when compared to the control. The study thus provides an insight into the effects of microplastic exposure on fishes. Significant changes in growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, acetylcholine esterase activity, behaviour, and haematological biomarkers were observed.