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Organic contaminants sorbed to microplastics affect marine medaka fish early life stages development
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics carrying adsorbed environmental contaminants affect the early life stages of marine medaka fish. The study found that while virgin microplastics alone showed no significant effects, microplastics spiked with benzo(a)pyrene, PFOS, or benzophenone-3 caused developmental impacts in embryos and larvae, demonstrating that microplastics can act as carriers that deliver toxic chemicals to developing fish.
The role of polyethylene microplastics 4-6 μm size (MPs) in the toxicity of environmental compounds to fish early life stages (ELS) was investigated. Marine medaka Oryzias melastigma embryos and larvae were exposed to suspended MPs spiked with three model contaminants: benzo(a)pyrene (MP-BaP), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (MP-PFOS) and benzophenone-3 (MP-BP3) for 12 days. There was no evidence of MPs ingestion but MPs agglomerated on the surface of the chorion. Fish ELS exposed to virgin MPs did not show toxic effects. Exposure to MP-PFOS decreased embryonic survival and prevented hatching. Larvae exposed to MP-BaP or MP-BP3 exhibited reduced growth, increased developmental anomalies and abnormal behavior. Compared to equivalent waterborne concentrations, BaP and PFOS appeared to be more embryotoxic when spiked on MPs than when alone in seawater. These results suggest a relevant pollutant transfer by direct contact of MPs to fish ELS that should be included in the ecotoxicological risk assessment of MPs.
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Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development
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Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
Toxicity assessment of pollutants sorbed on environmental microplastics collected on beaches: Part II-adverse effects on Japanese medaka early life stages
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Environmental microplastics collected from Pacific island beaches were tested on Japanese medaka embryos and prolarvae, with particles from Easter Island, Guam, and Hawaii causing significant mortality, developmental malformations, EROD enzyme induction, and DNA damage compared to virgin plastics. The study demonstrates that beach-collected microplastics carrying environmental pollutants are significantly more toxic than virgin particles to fish early life stages.
Microplastics and sorbed contaminants – Trophic exposure in fish sensitive early life stages
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Zebrafish and marine medaka larvae fed on microplastic-laden prey organisms accumulated contaminants like benzo[a]pyrene but did not show significant microplastic accumulation or tissue translocation, as particles were rapidly egested. The study shows that even tiny prey organisms can transfer chemical pollutants to fish larvae via the trophic chain.
Microplastics increase the accumulation of phenanthrene in the ovaries of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) and its transgenerational toxicity
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Researchers found that co-exposing female marine medaka fish to phenanthrene-adsorbed microplastics significantly increased the accumulation of the pollutant in ovaries compared to phenanthrene alone. The combination worsened reproductive toxicity by increasing follicular atresia and inhibiting ovarian maturation, and the pollutant was transferred to offspring embryos. The study suggests that microplastics may amplify the transgenerational toxicity of organic pollutants in marine fish populations.
Sorption of PFOS onto polystyrene microplastics potentiates synergistic toxic effects during zebrafish embryogenesis and neurodevelopment
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics can absorb PFOS (a persistent industrial chemical) from water and deliver it to zebrafish embryos in a more concentrated form. The combination caused worse developmental problems than either pollutant alone, including delayed hatching, higher death rates, birth defects, and impaired brain development. This shows microplastics can act as carriers that intensify the toxic effects of other environmental chemicals.
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