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Polystyrene microplastics increase uptake, elimination and cytotoxicity of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in the marine scallop Chlamys farreri
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Marine scallops exposed to polystyrene microplastics combined with the flame retardant BDE-209 showed increased uptake and cytotoxicity of the chemical compared to BDE-209 alone, with microplastics acting primarily as a carrier to enhance pollutant bioavailability. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the toxicity of co-occurring chemical contaminants in bivalves.
Microplastics are a growing problem in marine environments due to their ubiquitous occurrence and affinity for chemical pollutants. However, the influence of microplastics on the uptake, depuration and toxicity of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in marine organisms is unclear. We exposed the marine scallop Chlamys farreri to polystyrene microplastics (PS; 125 μg/L) combined with BDE-209 (10 and 100 μg/L) to determine their toxicokinetics, cellular toxicity and histopathological effects. The results showed that PS acted as both a carrier and a scavenger for the bioaccumulation of BDE-209. Importantly, the carrier role of PS was greater than scavenger one. PS increased the negative effect of BDE-209 (100 μg/L) on hemocyte phagocytosis, and ultrastructural changes in gills and digestive gland of scallops due to their carrier role for the bioaccumulation of BDE-209. However, PS did not increase the DNA damage of BDE-209 on the hemocytes. These findings are evidence of microplastics transferring adsorbed pollutants to marine organisms, and increasing their toxicity.
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