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Weathering impacts the uptake of polyethylene microparticles from toothpaste in Mediterranean mussels (M. galloprovincialis)
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Researchers studied the uptake of weathered polyethylene microparticles from toothpaste by oral tissues, finding that environmental weathering of plastic particles affected their uptake behavior, with potential implications for human exposure through oral care products.
Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed over 21 days to polyethylene (PE) particles (0.01 mg ml; 50-570 μm) isolated from toothpaste. PE was deployed in the Outer Oslofjord (Norway) for 21 days, before exposing the mussels to both virgin (PE-V) and weathered PE (PE-W) particles. The mussels ingested both types of particles, but significantly more weathered particles were ingested than virgin (p = .0317), based on PE dosed by weight (mg ml) but not when considering particle number (PE-V: 1.18 ± 0.16 particles ml; PE-W 1.86 ± 0.66 particles ml). PE particle ingestion resulted in structural changes to the gills and digestive gland, as well as necrosis in other tissues such as the mantle. No differences were found regarding the degree of tissue alteration between PE-virgin and PE-weathered exposures. This current study illustrates the importance of using weathered particles in microplastic exposure studies to reflect the behaviour of plastic particles after entering the marine environment. The observed tissue alterations demonstrate the potential adverse effects to mussels exposed to microplastic particles.
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This study exposed blue mussels to polyethylene microplastics sourced directly from toothpaste and found that the particles caused physiological stress, reduced feeding activity, and elevated inflammatory markers. The results show that PE microbeads from consumer products can directly harm filter-feeding shellfish, raising concerns about human dietary exposure from seafood.
Accumulation and ecotoxicological risk of weathered polyethylene (wPE) microplastics on green mussel (Perna viridis)
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Green mussels exposed to weathered polyethylene microplastics for 30 days accumulated particles primarily in the intestine at higher concentrations, with reduced feeding rates at 3 µg/L but no mortality — while a post-exposure depuration period showed partial clearance from tissues.
Effect of aging of microplastics on gene expression levels of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposures
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Researchers compared the effects of aged versus non-aged polyethylene microplastics on the marine mussel Mytilus edulis using both in vitro and in vivo exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study found that gene expression changes in xenobiotic defense, immune function, and cell cycle control differed depending on whether the plastic was aged and the type of exposure method used. These findings highlight that the environmental weathering state of microplastics is an important factor in determining their biological effects on marine organisms.
Effects of Weathering on Microplastic Dispersibility and Pollutant Uptake Capacity
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This study examined how environmental weathering changes the surface properties of microplastics and their ability to absorb co-pollutants, finding that weathered MPs bind more contaminants than pristine particles due to surface oxidation and cracking. The results emphasize that the environmental fate and toxicity of microplastics change dynamically as they age in the environment.
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