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Impacts of nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana larvae: effects on growth and proteins responses
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This laboratory study found that nanoplastic particles reduced growth and feeding rates in Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp) larvae in a dose-dependent manner. The results demonstrate that nanoplastics — the smallest and potentially most biologically active plastic particles — can harm early-life-stage marine crustaceans at environmentally relevant concentrations.
The accumulation of plastic litter on beaches and open oceans have been identified as one of the major threats in marine ecosystems worldwide. Laboratory experiments have proved that the formation of nano-sized plastics during the plastic degradation may reach marine ecosystem, considered as the most in danger. While the impact of macro- and microplastics on the marine organisms is worldwide well documented, the least known and characterized fraction of marine litter, due to its difficult sampling and analytical identification, is probably nanoplastics. Polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs), widely studied for drug delivery in human studies, were recently recommended as nanoplastics model in ecotoxicological studies. In present study the impact of 50 nm cationic amino polystyrene (PS-NH2) was evaluated on the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Nanoparticles properties such as dimension, dispersion and surface charge were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) in two different environmental media, milli Q water (mQW) and natural sea water (NSW). Acute toxicity tests were performed on A. franciscana exposed to different suspensions of PS-NH2 (0.1, 1 and 10 μg/mL) in NSW for 48 hours. Growth rate and several biomarkers involved in important physiological processes, such as biotransformation of xenobiotics (carboxylesterase, glutathione-S-transferase), neuronal transmission (cholinesterase) general stress (Heat Shock Protein) and oxidative stress (catalase) were evaluated
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Comparative toxicity of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana nauplii: a multidimensional assessment
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Researchers compared the toxic effects of three common plastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene — in nanoplastic form on brine shrimp larvae. They found that all three types caused harm, but polystyrene nanoplastics were the most toxic across multiple biological measures. The study provides the first direct comparison showing that the chemical composition of nanoplastics significantly influences their toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Ingestion and bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics and their effects on the microalgal feeding of Artemia franciscana
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Brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics ingested and bioaccumulated the particles, which also affected their feeding behavior on microalgae and caused changes in gut microbiota. These effects on a widely used aquaculture species raise concerns about nanoplastic contamination in marine food production.
Effects of ingested polystyrene microplastics on brine shrimp, Artemia parthenogenetica
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Brine shrimp larvae (Artemia parthenogenetica) were exposed to 10 μm polystyrene microspheres at concentrations close to environmentally extrapolated levels, with microspheres clearly ingested and accumulated in the gut, resulting in reduced feeding rates and growth at higher concentrations. The study demonstrates that microplastic ingestion by brine shrimp, a widely used aquaculture feed organism, occurs at ecologically relevant concentrations and causes sublethal harm.
The uptake and elimination of polystyrene microplastics by the brine shrimp, Artemia parthenogenetica, and its impact on its feeding behavior and intestinal histology
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Researchers studied the uptake, elimination, and intestinal effects of polystyrene microplastics on brine shrimp larvae. They found that the larvae ingested microplastics at rates dependent on concentration, exposure time, and food availability, and that the particles caused intestinal damage. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination can harm the health and feeding behavior of zooplankton larvae, which are critical components of marine food webs.
Nano-sized polystyrene affects feeding, behavior and physiology of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana larvae
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Researchers exposed brine shrimp larvae to anionic and cationic polystyrene nanoparticles and found sub-lethal but significant effects: anionic particles packed guts and limited feeding, while positively charged particles adhered to sensory appendages, impaired movement, and triggered repeated molting as a possible expulsion defense.
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