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Ecotoxicity of Plastic Nanoparticles in Quagga Mussels Dreissena bugensis
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Researchers exposed quagga mussels to PVC, PET, and the plasticizer dibutylphthalate (DBP) and found all three compounds bioaccumulate in soft tissues, with DBP causing 100% mortality at 100 µg/L. Exposure triggered oxidative stress markers including increased esterase activity, elevated lipids, and protein aggregation, indicating significant toxicity to freshwater filter-feeders.
Small plastics polymers have the potential to bioaccumulate in tissues and initiate toxicity, raising concerns about the long-term impacts towards filter-feeders such as freshwater mussels. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicity of two common plastic polymers (polyvinyl chloride-PVC; polyethylene terephthalate-PET) and the plasticizer dibutylphthalate (DBP) to quagga mussels Dreissena bugensis. Mussels were exposed to 5, 50 and 100 µg/L of the above compounds for 96h at 15oC. They were then analyzed for total plastic accumulation, esterase, peroxidase, lipids and protein aggregation in the soft tissues. The data revealed that DBP reduced survival at concentrations > 5 µg/L and all died at 100 µg/L. An estimated bioavailability factor of 90, 40 and 1580 for PVC, PET and DBP was determined. These differences could be explained by particle size and form for PVC (0.5 µm fiber) and PET (2 µm diameter). DBP tissue levels were also detected in mussels exposed to PVC and PET suggesting its presence in plastics. Esterase activity was strongly increased in DBP (ester)-treated mussels and was slightly decreased in mussels exposed to ester-containing PET. The biomarker data also revealed an increase in lipids, peroxidase and protein aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that these compounds are bioavailable to mussels and the changes in esterase activity could be a factor leading to oxidative stress and protein aggregation in mussel tissues.
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Ecotoxicity of plastic nanoparticles in quagga mussels, Dreissena bugensis
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Researchers exposed quagga mussels to PVC nanofibers, PET microparticles, and the plasticizer dibutylphthalate (DBP) for 96 hours, finding that DBP caused 100% mortality at 100 µg/L while all three compounds accumulated in soft tissue and elevated lipid peroxidation, peroxidase activity, and protein aggregation in a dose-dependent manner.
Uptake and Retention of Nanoplastics in Quagga Mussels
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Experiments tested whether the invasive freshwater mussel Dreissena bugensis (quagga mussel) takes up and retains nanoplastics, finding that the mussels ingested and retained nano-sized plastic particles in their tissues after exposure. Quagga mussels, already widely distributed in North American and European waterways, could serve as both sentinels for nanoplastic monitoring and vectors for nanoplastic entry into food webs.
Toxicological and Biomarker Assessment of Freshwater Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) Exposed to Nano-Polystyrene
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Researchers exposed freshwater zebra mussels to nano-polystyrene particles at concentrations of 20 to 60 mg/L and measured mortality, feeding rates, and stress biomarker responses. They found that the nanoplastics caused measurable stress responses and affected the mussels' clearance rates at tested concentrations. The study adds to evidence that sub-micron plastic particles can have significant biological impacts on freshwater filter-feeding organisms.
Effects of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics on bioaccumulation and toxicity of dibutyl phthalate in Mytilisepta virgata
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics affect the accumulation and toxicity of dibutyl phthalate, a common marine pollutant, in mussels. They found that the type and aging state of microplastics influenced how much phthalate accumulated in the mussels' tissues, and that the accumulated pollutant persisted even after the exposure ended. The study suggests that while mussels can survive these exposures, they risk significant pollutant buildup and oxidative damage when microplastics and phthalates coexist.
Cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles
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This study exposed mussels to environmentally realistic concentrations of aged PET micro- and nanoplastics and found measurable cellular damage even at the lowest doses tested. The plastic particles caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue changes in the mussels' digestive systems. Since mussels are a common seafood and are often eaten whole, these findings are relevant to understanding human microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.
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