We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Does the presence of microplastics influence the acute toxicity of chromium(VI) to early juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps)? A study with juveniles from two wild estuarine populations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether microplastics influence the acute toxicity of chromium(VI) to juvenile common goby fish from two different estuarine populations. The study found that the presence of microplastics could modulate chromium toxicity, and that fish from different estuaries with varying environmental conditions showed different sensitivities to the combined stressors.
Toxicological interactions between microplastics (MP) and other environmental contaminants are of grave concern. Here, the potential influence of MP in the short-term toxicity of chromium to early juveniles of Pomatoschistus microps was investigated. Three null hypotheses were tested: (1) exposure to Cr(VI) concentrations in the low ppm range does not induce toxic effects on juveniles; (2) the presence of microplastics in the water does not influence the acute toxicity of Cr(VI) to juveniles; (3) the environmental conditions of the natural habitat where fish developed do not influence their sensitivity to Cr(VI)-induced acute stress. Fish were collected in the estuaries of Minho (M-est) and Lima (L-est) Rivers (NW Iberian Peninsula) that have several abiotic differences, including in the water and sediment concentrations of various environmental contaminants. After acclimatization to laboratory conditions, two 96h acute bioassays were carried out with juveniles from both estuaries to: (i) investigate the effects of Cr(VI) alone; (ii) investigate the effects of Cr(VI) in the presence of MP (polyethylene spheres 1-5μm ∅). Cr(VI) alone induced mortality (96h-LC50s: 14.4-30.5mg/l) and significantly decreased fish predatory performance (≤74%). Thus, in the range of concentrations tested (5.6-28.4mg/l) Cr(VI) was found to be toxic to P. microps early juveniles, therefore, we rejected hypothesis 1. Under simultaneous exposure to Cr(VI) and MP, a significant decrease of the predatory performance (≤67%) and a significant inhibition of AChE activity (≤31%) were found. AChE inhibition was not observed in the test with Cr(VI) alone and MP alone caused an AChE inhibition ≤21%. Mixture treatments containing Cr(VI) concentration ≥3.9mg/l significantly increased LPO levels in L-est fish, an effect that was not observed under Cr(VI) or MP single exposures. Thus, toxicological interactions between Cr(VI) and MP occurred, therefore, we rejected hypothesis 2. In the presence of MP, the negative effect caused by high concentrations of Cr(VI) on the predatory performance was significantly reduced in L-est fish but not in M-est fish, and Cr(VI) concentrations higher than 3.9mg/l caused oxidative damage in L-est fish but not in M-est fish. The acclimatization and test conditions were similar for fish from the two estuaries and these ecosystems have environmental differences. Thus, long-term exposure to distinct environmental conditions in the natural habitat during previous developmental phases influenced the sensitivity and responses of juveniles to Cr(VI), therefore, we rejected hypothesis 3. Overall, the results of this study indicate toxicological interactions between MP and Cr(VI) highlighting the importance of further investigating the combined effects of MP and other common contaminants.
More Papers Like This
Effects of microplastics on juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps): Confusion with prey, reduction of the predatory performance and efficiency, and possible influence of developmental conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether juvenile common goby fish ingest microplastics and whether their presence affects predatory performance. The study found that fish confused microplastics with prey, and that microplastic presence reduced predatory efficiency, with developmental conditions in different estuaries also influencing the fish's ability to distinguish between food and plastic particles.
Short- and long-term single and combined effects of microplastics and chromium on the freshwater water flea Daphnia magna
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the individual and combined effects of microplastics and chromium on the water flea Daphnia magna in both short- and long-term experiments. They found that microplastics interacted with chromium, reducing its concentration in water, and that co-exposure caused acute toxicity but lacked the chronic effects seen with chromium alone. The study suggests that microplastics may alter the bioavailability and toxicity of metal pollutants in freshwater environments.
Effects of multi-stressors on juveniles of the marine fish Pomatoschistus microps: Gold nanoparticles, microplastics and temperature
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the combined effects of gold nanoparticles, microplastics, and temperature increase on juvenile common goby fish. The study found that these multiple stressors interacted in complex ways, with microplastics influencing how fish took up nanoparticles and temperature modulating toxicity, highlighting the importance of studying environmental contaminants in combination rather than isolation.
Neurotoxicity, Behavior, and Lethal Effects of Cadmium, Microplastics, and Their Mixtures on Pomatoschistus microps Juveniles from Two Wild Populations Exposed under Laboratory Conditions―Implications to Environmental and Human Risk Assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Juvenile sand gobies from two Portuguese river estuaries were exposed to cadmium and polyethylene microplastics alone and in combination over 96 hours, with cadmium causing neurotoxicity and lethality at low concentrations while microplastics showed no acute toxicity and did not consistently modulate cadmium effects. The study reveals population-level differences in sensitivity and weak cadmium-microplastic interactions in this coastal fish.
Stressful Effects of Individual and Combined Exposure to Low-Concentration Polylactic Acid Microplastics and Chromium on Marine Medaka Larvae (Oryzias melastigma)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed marine medaka fish larvae to low concentrations of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics and chromium, both individually and together, for 14 days. The combined exposure caused more severe intestinal damage, oxidative stress, and disruption of gut bacteria than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that even biodegradable microplastics can worsen the effects of heavy metal pollution on young fish in marine environments.
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.