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New polymer antioxidant from Cytec targets demanding conditions
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Sydney rock oysters were exposed to microplastics smaller than 2 micrometers and were found to ingest and translocate them to their haemolymph (blood equivalent), possibly via phagocytosis. This finding raises concerns about the internal distribution of the smallest microplastic particles within the tissues of filter-feeding marine invertebrates.
Plastic waste is ubiquitous in marine environments. Despite the sheer volume of plastic waste, it remains relatively unknown how marine invertebrates will interact with microplastics (plastic <1 mm). Microplastics (<2 μm) were ingested by the economically and ecologically significant Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata and translocated to the haemolymph, perhaps via phagocytosis. The presence of microplastics in the haemolymph indicates that filter feeding S. glomerata can ingest and accumulate microplastics which are prevalent in the environment. This research shows microplastics can enter marine molluscs and highlights the need to monitor microplastics in the marine environment and aquaculture to safeguard the seafood industry.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics detected in haemolymph of the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata
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Tiny microplastics (smaller than 2 micrometers) were found in the blood-like fluid of Sydney rock oysters, suggesting they can move beyond the gut and into body tissues via the immune system. This raises concerns for both the marine food chain and human health, given that oysters are widely consumed seafood.
Invertebrate responses to microplastic ingestion: Reviewing the role of the antioxidant system
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Microplastic ingestion poses an oxidative challenge to invertebrates requiring upregulation of antioxidant defenses, but studies are limited to only seven taxa, dominated by polystyrene spheres <10 µm, and the lack of systematic experiments prevents identifying which specific microplastic characteristics drive the oxidative stress response.
Environmental and Sublethal Concentrations of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induced Antioxidant System, Transcriptomic Responses, and Disturbed Gut Microbiota in Oyster Magallana Hongkongensis
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Researchers exposed Hong Kong oysters to polystyrene nanoplastics at both environmentally realistic and higher concentrations. Even at the lower, real-world concentrations, the nanoplastics significantly altered the oysters' gut bacteria and gene expression patterns, while higher doses also triggered immune and antioxidant stress responses, raising concerns about food safety and ecosystem health.
Realistic environmental exposure to microplastics does not induce biological effects in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas
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Pacific oysters were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene and polypropylene fragments for 10 days followed by depuration, with microplastics detected in tissues but no significant effects on clearance rate, tissue integrity, antioxidant defense, or DNA damage. The results suggest that realistic environmental concentrations of these larger fragments may not cause measurable biological harm to oysters.
Nanoplastics: From tissue accumulation to cell translocation into Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes. resilience of immune cells exposed to nanoplastics and nanoplastics plus Vibrio splendidus combination
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Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes accumulate in and affect the immune cells of Mediterranean mussels. They found that the smallest nanoparticles quickly moved from the digestive system into the bloodstream and were taken up by immune cells, altering their function including motility and the ability to produce reactive oxygen species. However, the immune cells showed resilience by recovering their ability to fight bacterial infection after nanoplastic exposure.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.