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Effects of nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentration on Daphnia pulex after exposure through multiple generations
Summary
Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia pulex) to environmentally realistic nanoplastic concentrations across three generations over 63 days. They found that while the first two generations showed mainly molecular-level stress responses, the third generation experienced reduced growth and reproduction along with suppressed antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that even very low nanoplastic concentrations can have significant long-term toxic effects that worsen across generations and may take multiple generations to recover from.
The biological effects of nanoplastics are a growing concern. However, most studies have focused on exposure to high concentrations or short-term exposure. The potential effects of exposure to low environmental nanoplastic concentrations over the long-term and across multiple generations remain unclear. In the present study, Daphnia pulex was exposed over three 21-day generations to a typical environmental nanoplastic concentration (1 μg/L) and the effects were investigated at physiological (growth and reproduction), gene transcription and enzyme activity levels. Chronic exposure did not affect the survival or body length of D. pulex, whereas the growth rate and reproduction were influenced in the F2 generation. Molecular responses indicated that environmental nanoplastic concentrations can modulate the response of antioxidant defenses, vitellogenin synthesis, development, and energy production in the F0-F1 generations, and prolongation resulted in inhibitory effects on antioxidant responses in F2 individuals. Some recovery was observed in the recovery group, but reproduction and stress defenses were significantly induced. Taken together, these results suggest that D. pulex recovery from chronic exposure to nanoplastic may take several generations, and that nanoplastics have potent long-term toxic effects on D. pulex. The findings highlight the importance of multigenerational and chronic biological evaluations to assess risks of emerging pollution.