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Effects of microplastics contamination on marine biota
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Researchers exposed mussels to PVC microplastics under different conditions, finding that short-term exposure caused physiological stress influenced by plastic additives and concentration, while long-term exposure allowed some adaptation. Microplastics were transferred along the food chain to predators but were not absorbed into tissues, suggesting physical passage rather than bioaccumulation.
Microplastic pollution (particles < 5mm) is one of the most widespread impacts from modern society. Here, microplastic impacts were investigated through experimental assessments considering different exposure scenarios using mussels and micro-PVC as models. These aimed to investigate mussels\\' physiological signs of stress under acute and chronic exposures and microplastics transference, assimilation and retention along food chains. In acute exposures, PVC intake affected mussels\\' physiology over time, also influenced by plastics additives and particle concentration. Interactions among exposure factors (time, presence of additives and concentration) were more relevant than their individual effect, indicating the singularity of each contamination scenario. Long-term contact did not affect mussels, indicating the influence of time to acclimation. Microplastics were not assimilated and retained along food chains, but only biotransferred from prey tissues to predators\\' tract, showing the influence of prey contamination on the effectiveness of microplastics biotransference. To evaluate risks in nature, microplastic ingestion was investigated in mussels from the Santos Estuary. Santos Estuary contained microplastics in 75% of sampled mussels, an issue of environmental and human concern. This study illustrated that microplastics impacts on mussels vary with microplastics characteristics, exposure scenario and species vulnerability, highlighting the need for more toxicological and risk evaluation studies.
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Efeitos da contaminação por microplásticos na biota marinha
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This Brazilian study examined microplastic impacts on marine biota using mussels and PVC microplastics as models, finding that short-term exposure caused physiological stress that varied with plastic additives and concentration. While microplastics were physically transferred through food chains, they were not absorbed into tissues, suggesting passage rather than bioaccumulation.
Differential effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and kaolin particles on gut immunity of mussels at environmental concentrations
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Researchers compared the toxicity of PVC microplastics and natural kaolin particles on thick-shelled mussels, finding that microplastics caused greater harm overall. Through layered experiments, they demonstrated that the chemical additives leaching from PVC, combined with its physical effects, drive the higher toxicity compared to natural particles. The study suggests that both the physical presence and the chemical composition of microplastics contribute to their harmful effects on marine organisms.
Suspended micro-sized PVC particles impair the performance and decrease survival in the Asian green mussel Perna viridis
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Researchers exposed aquatic organisms to suspended micro-sized PVC particles and found impaired performance and reduced survival, demonstrating that PVC-specific microplastics cause measurable harm at concentrations approaching those found in some polluted environments.
A comparison with natural particles reveals a small specific effect of PVC microplastics on mussel performance
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Effects of PVC microplastics on marine animals were compared to effects of natural particles at equivalent concentrations, to distinguish plastic-specific effects from generic particle effects. The comparison revealed a small specific effect of PVC microplastics beyond what natural particle exposure causes, suggesting that many microplastic impacts may be partly attributable to physical particle load rather than plastic chemistry alone.
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Researchers investigated whether microplastics influence the bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants in Mediterranean mussels. The study found that the presence of microplastics altered how certain chemical pollutants accumulated in mussel tissue, suggesting that microplastics can act as carriers that change the uptake and distribution of other contaminants in marine organisms.
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