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Effects of tire particles and associated-chemicals on the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) physiology, reproduction and next-generation.
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A multigenerational study exposed Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) to tire particles and their chemical leachates across multiple life stages and found effects at the cellular, molecular, and microbiota levels. The results demonstrate that tire particles — projected to become the dominant marine plastic by 2040 — can impair oyster physiology in ways that may affect wild populations and aquaculture.
By 2040, tire particles (TP) are expected to dominate marine plastic contamination, raising concerns about their effects on marine animals. This study employed a multidisciplinary and multigenerational approach on the Pacific oyster Magallana gigas to investigate the effects of TP and their leachates (LEA). Effects were analyzed at the individual scale, from cellular, molecular, and microbiota changes to reproductive outputs and offspring performance. Microbiota characterization revealed potential dysbiosis in oysters treated with high concentration of both TP and LEA. RNA-seq analyses highlighted the activation of energy metabolism and stress responses in the LEA treatment. Additionally, transcriptional changes in oocytes and the reduction of motile spermatozoa suggested potential effects on gamete quality. Notably, possible oyster resilience was pointed out by the lack of significant ecophysiological modifications in adults and impacts on the growth and reproductive outputs of the offspring. Overall, the implications of the observed oyster resilience under our experimental setting are discussed in relation to available toxicity data and within a comprehensive view of coastal ecosystems, where a higher diversity of plastic/rubber materials and harsher environmental conditions occur.
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