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Comparative Effects of Ingested PVC Micro Particles With and Without Adsorbed Benzo(a)pyrene vs. Spiked Sediments on the Cellular and Sub Cellular Processes of the Benthic Organism Hediste diversicolor
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Researchers fed fish PVC microparticles with and without adsorbed chemical contaminants and compared the effects, finding that the plastics alone caused some harm but that adsorbed contaminants on the microplastics added additional toxic stress.
The plastic microliter represents an emerging contaminant as well as multiple stress agent in the aquatic environments. Microplastics are found even in the remote areas of the world. Together with their occurrence in all environmental compartments, there is a growing concern about their potential of adsorbing pollutants co-occurring in the environment. Currently, little is known about this source of exposure for aquatic organisms in the benthic environment. Exposure conditions were set up mimicking the contribution of microplastics in different exposure routes. The potential biological effects were investigated in the model organism: the annelid Hediste diversicolor. Cellular effects including alterations of immunological responses, lysosomal compartment, mitochondrial activity, oxyradical production and onset of genotoxicity were assessed in coelomocytes while temporary and permanent effects of oxidative stress were also performed at tissue level. In this study polyvinylchloride (PVC) microplastics were shown to adsorb benzo(a)pyrene with a time and dose-dependent relationship. Results also indicated a marked capability of contaminated microplastics to transfer the model organic chemical to exposed model organism under physiological gut conditions and concentrated in tissues. The elevated bioavailability of the model pollutant after the ingestion induced a clear pattern of biological responses. Toxicity mainly targeted impairment of cellular functioning and genotoxicity in ragworm’s coelomocytes, while permanent effects of oxidative stress were observed at tissue level. Coelomocytes responded faster and with a higher degree of sensitivity to the adverse stimuli when compared with responses observed in whole tissue samples. The results showed that microplastic particles in sediments may play a significant role as vectors for organic pollutants. The highest adverse responses were observed in those ragworms exposed to sediments spiked with PVC particles pre-incubated with B[a]P when compared against sediments spiked with B[a]P and microplastics separately.
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Toxicological impact of environmental microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor under environmentally relevant exposure conditions
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Researchers assessed the combined toxicity of environmental microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor under realistic exposure conditions, finding that microplastics can modulate the bioavailability and toxic effects of co-occurring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
From plastic to pathophysiology: polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics disrupt fish blood, metabolism, and growth
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Fish (Channa punctatus) exposed to low levels of polyethylene and PVC microplastics for 21 days showed blood changes suggesting anemia and immune activation, signs of organ stress, DNA damage in blood cells, and slower growth. Fish exposed to both plastics together showed the worst effects across all measures, indicating the combination was more harmful than either plastic alone.
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Researchers found that microbial biofilms — thin layers of bacteria that coat microplastics in water — selectively reduce how much of a toxic chemical called benzo[a]pyrene gets absorbed by larval zebrafish, while not affecting cadmium absorption, showing that microplastics can act as complex, biology-influenced carriers of multiple pollutants simultaneously.
Effect of Polyvinyl Chloride and Polystyrene Micro-Plastics on Growth, Digestive Enzymes, Oxidative Stress, and DNA Damage in Ctenopharyngodon idella.
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Fish fed diets containing common plastic particles (from PVC and polystyrene, found in packaging and household items) grew significantly slower, showed signs of cell stress, and had more DNA damage compared to fish without plastic exposure—and these effects got worse with higher plastic doses. Since these fish are a food source, this research is a reminder that microplastics polluting our waterways don't just harm aquatic life—they raise questions about what ends up on our plates, too.
Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress
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Researchers fed fish polyethylene plastic fragments collected from the ocean — which had absorbed surrounding pollutants — and found the fish bioaccumulated toxic chemicals and developed liver damage. The study demonstrates that ingested marine plastic acts as a delivery vehicle for harmful contaminants, compounding the health risks of plastic pollution in seafood.
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