We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Immunotoxicity of microplastics and two persistent organic pollutants alone or in combination to a bivalve species
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the immunotoxic effects of microplastics and two persistent organic pollutants, benzo[a]pyrene and estradiol, on the bivalve Tegillarca granosa, both individually and in combination. Exposure to microplastics alone altered immune cell counts, phagocytic activity, and expression of immune-related genes. Notably, smaller 500-nanometer microplastics generally worsened the toxicity of the co-pollutants, while larger 30-micrometer particles appeared to mitigate their effects.
Both microplastics and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitously present in natural water environment, posing a potential threat to aquatic organisms. While it has been suggested that the immune responses of aquatic organisms could be hampered by exposure to microplastics and POPs, the synergistic immunotoxic impact of these two types of pollutants remain poorly understood. In addition, little is known about the mechanism behind the immunotoxic effect of microplastics. Therefore, in the present study, the immunotoxicity of microplastics and two POPs, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 17β-estradiol (E2), were investigated alone or in combination in a bivalve species, Tegillarca granosa. Evident immunotoxicity, as indicated by alterations of haemocyte count, blood cell composition, phagocytic activity, intracellular content of ROS, concentration of Ca and lysozyme, and lysozyme activity, was revealed for both microplastics and the two POPs examined. In addition, the expression of six immune-, Ca signalling-, and apoptosis-related genes was significantly altered by exposure of clams to the contaminants studied. Furthermore, the toxicity of POPs was generally aggravated by smaller microplastics (500 nm) and mitigated by larger ones (30 μm). This size dependent effect on POP toxicity may result from size dependent interactions between microplastics and POPs. Data obtained in this study also indicate that similar to exposure to B[a]P and E2, exposure to microplastics may hamper the immune responses of clams through a series of interdependent physiological and molecular processes.
More Papers Like This
Immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity of bisphenol A and microplastics alone or in combination to a bivalve species, Tegillarca granosa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity of bisphenol A and microplastics, both alone and in combination, on the blood clam Tegillarca granosa. The study found that co-exposure to both pollutants produced significant impacts on immune and neural biomarkers, suggesting that the combined presence of microplastics and chemical contaminants may pose greater risks to marine invertebrates.
Immunotoxicities of microplastics and sertraline, alone and in combination, to a bivalve species: size-dependent interaction and potential toxication mechanism
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the combined immunotoxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and the antidepressant sertraline on the bivalve Tegillarca granosa. The study found that both pollutants individually suppressed immune responses, and that their combined effects were size-dependent, with 500-nanometer particles producing different interaction patterns than 30-micrometer particles, highlighting the complexity of microplastic-pharmaceutical co-exposure in marine organisms.
Immunotoxicity of microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls alone or in combination to Crassostrea gigas
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed oysters to microplastics and PCBs (industrial chemicals) both alone and together, finding that the combination caused significantly worse immune damage than either pollutant on its own. The pollutants reduced the oysters' ability to fight infection, increased cell damage, and triggered cell death pathways. This synergistic effect is concerning because microplastics in the ocean often carry other toxic chemicals, potentially making contaminated seafood a greater health risk.
Immunotoxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons and microplastics alone or in combination to a bivalve species: Synergic impacts and potential toxication mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
Marine mussels exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons and microplastics separately and together showed that combined exposure caused greater immune suppression and lysosomal damage than either stressor alone, identifying oxidative stress pathways as a key mechanism of joint toxicity.
The combined effects of phenanthrene and micro-/nanoplastics mixtures on the cellular stress responses of the thick-shell mussel Mytilus coruscus
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed thick-shell mussels to a combination of micro- and nanoplastics along with a common pollutant (phenanthrene) to study their combined effects. The mixtures caused more severe immune cell damage, increased oxidative stress, and stronger inflammatory responses than either pollutant alone. Evidence indicates that micro- and nanoplastics can worsen the toxic effects of organic pollutants in marine shellfish.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.