We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics as Pollutants In Aquatic Ecosystems Across South Carolina
Summary
This study examined microplastic contamination in freshwater and saltwater environments across South Carolina, documenting how particles accumulate and interact with harmful algal bloom toxins. Microplastics can adsorb algal toxins like microcystin, potentially increasing the danger of these compounds to animals that consume contaminated plastic particles.
Microplastics, or MPs, are classified as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm that can become a prevalent pollutant in both freshwater and saltwater environments. These pollutants pose a harm to the ecosystem and the organisms living within. As MPs break down in their environments, they can leach chemicals. MPs are known to be highly absorbent and may take in toxins present in the environment. This makes the process of bioaccumulation more deadly to organisms that come into contact with them. Some toxins that are susceptible to being absorbed by MPs come from Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs. These HABs result due to increased growth of toxic microalgae that outcompete other algal species and have harmful effects on the flora and fauna of the areas they inhabit. The toxicity of MPs and HABs were tested separately and together using P. pugio (a grass shrimp species) as test subjects. This was done to gain a sense of whether the pollutants had a synergistic, antagonistic, or additive relationship. Data sets of MPs from Lake Wateree and various sites across Charleston from a previous study conducted by The Citadel were also compared.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Fate, abundance and ecological risks of microcystins in aquatic environment: The implication of microplastics
This review explores how microplastics in water can interact with microcystins, highly toxic compounds produced by harmful algal blooms, by adsorbing and transporting them through aquatic environments. The combination poses increased risks to human health because microplastics can carry these dangerous toxins into drinking water sources and through the food chain.
Sorption of the common freshwater cyanotoxin microcystin to microplastics
Researchers demonstrated that microplastics from freshwater environments can adsorb the harmful algal bloom toxin microcystin onto their surfaces, potentially concentrating the toxin and altering its environmental fate. This finding suggests that microplastics in lakes with cyanobacterial blooms may act as carriers for toxins that affect fish, wildlife, and humans.
Uncovering the potential effect of microplastics on Alexandrium pacificum: From the perspective of cyst formation and toxin production
Microplastics were found to influence the growth and toxin production of Alexandrium (a harmful algal bloom species), with effects depending on plastic type and concentration. This raises concerns that microplastic pollution could alter the frequency or severity of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters.
Toxic plastisphere: How the characteristics of plastic particles can affect colonization of harmful microalgae and adsorption of phycotoxins
Researchers found that microplastic particles in water can serve as surfaces for harmful algae to grow on and for algae-produced toxins to stick to. Smaller and sun-aged microplastic particles absorbed more toxins than larger or newer ones, meaning the most common microplastics in the environment may carry the greatest risk. This matters for human health because contaminated microplastics could transfer harmful algal toxins into seafood and drinking water.
Microplastics in aquatic environments: detection, abundance, characteristics, and toxicological studies
This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastics in water environments, covering how they are detected, how abundant they are, and what toxic effects they have on living organisms. Microplastics are found throughout aquatic systems and can accumulate in organisms while also spreading other pollutants through the environment. The authors emphasize that more attention should be paid to microplastics in freshwater and organisms closely linked to human food sources, as well as toxicity studies in mammals.