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Are bio-based and biodegradable microplastics impacting for blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)?
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Researchers tested whether polylactic acid microplastics, a bio-based and biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, cause toxicity in blue mussels over eight days of exposure. Standard biomarkers for oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity showed no significant effects. However, metabolomic analysis revealed changes in glycerophospholipid levels, suggesting subtle biochemical alterations that warrant further investigation into the safety of biodegradable microplastics in marine environments.
The substitution of petrochemical plastics by bio-based and biodegradable plastics are in need of an evaluation for the potential toxic impacts that they can have on marine wildlife. This study aims to assess the toxicological effects of polylactic acid microparticles at two concentrations, 10 and 100 μg/L, during 8 days on the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. No significant oxidative stress (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase activities), neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase), or immunotoxicity (lysosomal membrane stability and acid phosphatase activity) were detectable. The multivariate analysis of metabolomic data allowed us to differentiate the individuals according to the exposure. From the loading plot of OPLS-DA, 48 ions down-regulated in the individuals exposed to microplastics. They were identified based on HRMS data as glycerophospholipids.
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Bio-based microplastic polylactic acid exerts the similar toxic effects to traditional petroleum-based microplastic polystyrene in mussels
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Researchers exposed mussels to bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics and traditional polystyrene microplastics and found that both caused similar levels of harm, including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and impaired feeding and respiration. PLA is often promoted as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics, but this study shows it poses comparable ecological risks once it breaks down into microplastics in the ocean. The findings suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics alone will not solve the marine microplastic problem.
Biological impacts of bio-based and compostable microplastics on blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)
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No abstract content was provided for this study, so its specific findings on blue mussels and bio-based, compostable microplastics cannot be summarized here.
The combined effects of aging polylactic acid microplastics and TCPP on the byssus genes of the mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Researchers exposed mussels to polylactic acid microplastics, both new and aged, combined with a flame retardant chemical for 14 days and measured effects on byssus thread gene expression. They found that aged biodegradable microplastics and the flame retardant each suppressed genes related to the adhesive byssal plaque, and their combined effects worsened with increasing concentration. The study emphasizes that even biodegradable plastics become more ecotoxic as they age in marine environments.
Using marine mussels to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of two different commercial microplastics
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Researchers exposed marine mussels to polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics for up to 28 days to evaluate ecotoxicological effects. They measured feeding rates, condition index, and various biochemical markers related to metabolism and oxidative stress. The study found measurable changes in the mussels' biological responses, suggesting that these common types of microplastics can affect the health of filter-feeding organisms in marine environments.
Toxicity mechanisms of polystyrene microplastics in marine mussels revealed by high-coverage quantitative metabolomics using chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
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Scientists used an advanced metabolomics technique to study how polystyrene microplastics affect marine mussels at the molecular level, identifying nearly 3,600 metabolic compounds. The study found that microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations disrupted amino acid metabolism, leading to oxidative stress and immune system effects. Encouragingly, after a week-long recovery period, the mussels largely returned to normal, suggesting these toxic effects may be reversible.
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