We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Bisphenol-A and Styrene on Fertilization and Development of the Purple Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tested the effects of bisphenol-A (BPA) and styrene — chemicals that leach from marine plastic debris — on the fertilization and early development of purple sea urchins, two common model marine invertebrates. The results document developmental toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations, providing evidence that plastic-associated chemicals can harm marine organisms at the larval stage.
Plastic waste and debris have greatly increased in the marine environment during the past 50 years. Not only do these plastics entangle and get ingested by marine mammals, turtles, and sea birds, but they also leach chemicals, such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and styrene into the aquatic environment. While some of these chemicals are known to be toxic, few studies have examined their effects on broadcast spawning marine invertebrates, specifically at environmentally relevant concentrations. Purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, from the central coast of California, were utilized to examine effects of BPA and styrene on fertilization success and early development of resulting embryos. Previous research has demonstrated that BPA and styrene decrease successful fertilization and delay development of sea urchins, though no previous studies have examined effects of continuous chemical treatment on S. purpuratus development. We exposed eggs, sperm, or both to environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA or styrene (100 µg/L, 500 µg/L, and 1000 µg/L) to test the hypothesis that continuous treatment would lead to developmental abnormalities. The greatest effect was observed in pluteus larvae development, as the percentage of normal embryos decreased by as much as 80% in high dose chemical treatments (p=
More Papers Like This
Assessing the effect of microplastics on marine invertebrates: the consequence of exposure of sea urchin larvae to polystyrene microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed sea urchin larvae (Paracentrotus lividus) to polystyrene microplastics derived from commercial disposable plates and assessed effects on fertilization, embryogenesis, and larval development, finding significant impairment of early developmental stages at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Microplastic-induced damage in early embryonal development of sea urchin Sphaerechinus granularis
AI summary Read the abstract
Polystyrene and PMMA microplastics of various sizes were tested on sea urchin embryos from fertilization to the pluteus larval stage, causing dose-dependent developmental defects, cytogenetic abnormalities, and mitotic disruption, with sperm exposure to both plastic types also producing transmissible damage to offspring. The findings reveal significant developmental, genotoxic, and multigenerational hazards from microplastic exposure in marine invertebrates.
The adverse effects of virgin microplastics on the fertilization and larval development of sea urchins
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the effects of virgin microplastics on the fertilization and larval development of a marine organism, finding adverse effects on both fertilization success and larval survival at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Developmental toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and bisphenol A in black sea urchin Arbacia lixula by a multi-biomarker approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used a multi-biomarker approach to evaluate the developmental toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and bisphenol A, individually and combined, on the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula. The study assessed how these common marine pollutants affect early development in a sensitive marine invertebrate species.
Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics, alone and conjugated with bisphenol A, in the black sea urchin Arbacia lixula: A multi-biomarker approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics and the chemical bisphenol A, both alone and combined, on sea urchin embryo development. While bisphenol A caused severe skeletal abnormalities and developmental arrest, its toxicity was actually reduced when attached to microplastic surfaces rather than amplified. The study found no synergistic toxic effect between the two pollutants under acute exposure conditions, though both individually disrupted metabolic and oxidative stress pathways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.