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Growth inhibition, toxin production and oxidative stress caused by three microplastics in Microcystis aeruginosa

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2020 149 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Xiaowei Zheng, Weizhen Zhang, Yuan Yuan, Yanyao Li, Xianglin Liu, Xiangrong Wang, Zhengqiu Fan

Summary

Researchers tested the effects of three common microplastic types, PVC, polystyrene, and polyethylene, on the growth and toxin production of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. They found that all three microplastics inhibited algal growth and triggered oxidative stress, with PVC causing the most severe effects. The study also revealed that microplastic exposure stimulated the production of microcystin toxins, suggesting that plastic pollution could worsen harmful algal bloom impacts in freshwater systems.

Polymers
PE PS PVC
Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) have aroused widespread concern due to their extensive distribution in aquatic environments and adverse effects on aquatic organisms. However, the underlying toxicity of different kinds of MPs on freshwater microalgae has not been examined in detail. In this study, we investigated the effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) MPs on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa, as well as on its toxin production and oxidative stress. We found that all three kinds of MPs had an obvious inhibition effect on the growth of M. aeruginosa. Considering the results of antioxidant-related indicators, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and cell membrane integrity were greatly affected with exposure to PVC, PS and PE MPs. Moreover, the content of intracellular (intra-) and extracellular (extra-) microcystins (MCs) had a noticeable increase due to the presence of PVC, PS, and PE MPs. Finally, according to the comprehensive stress resistance indicators, the resistance of M. aeruginosa to three MPs followed the order: PE (3.701) > PS (3.607) > PVC (2.901). Our results provide insights into the effects of different kinds of MPs on freshwater algae and provide valuable data for risk assessment of different types of MPs.

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