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Using solitary ascidians to assess microplastic and phthalate plasticizers pollution among marine biota: A case study of the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea
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Researchers used invasive filter-feeding ascidians (sea squirts) as biomonitors in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, finding microplastic particles at every sampling site and high levels of phthalate plasticizers (DBP and DEHP) at most sites, demonstrating the utility of ascidians as cost-effective sentinels of MP and chemical contamination.
The interaction of microplastic (MP) with marine organisms is crucial for understanding the significant effect that MP and its additives may have on marine environments. However, knowledge regarding the magnitude of these pollutants in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the tropical Red Sea is still scarce. Here we examined the levels of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) and MP in Herdmania momus and Microcosmus exasperatus sampled along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel. High levels of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2‑ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in ascidians at the majority of sampling sites, and MP particles were found in ascidians at all sites. As efficient filter-feeders and being widely-distributed, invasive ascidians present fundamental opportunities for the environmental monitoring of microplastic and its additives worldwide. The high levels of pollutants revealed emphasize the need for further research into the magnitude and effects of MP and PAEs in these regions.
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This systematic review examines how sea squirts interact with micro- and nanoplastic pollution in ocean environments. These filter-feeding animals consistently accumulate plastic particles and show significant cellular damage as a result, making them useful biological indicators of marine plastic contamination. The findings illustrate how microplastics move through marine food webs, with implications for the seafood that ends up on our plates.
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