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The combined effects of aging polylactic acid microplastics and TCPP on the byssus genes of the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Yueyong Shang, Zhen Zhong, Youji Wang Liang Li, Menghong Hu, Zhen Zhong, Youji Wang Zhen Zhong, Zhen Zhong, Yueyong Shang, Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Yueyong Shang, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Zhen Zhong, Yueyong Shang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Dan Hu, Dan Hu, Liang Li, Zhen Zhong, Menghong Hu, Yueyong Shang, Zhen Zhong, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Liang Li, Zhen Zhong, Zhen Zhong, Zhen Zhong, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Zhen Zhong, Liang Li, Yueyong Shang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Yueyong Shang, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Yueyong Shang, Youji Wang Yueyong Shang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Zhen Zhong, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Yueyong Shang, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Yueyong Shang, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Dan Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Yueyong Shang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Yueyong Shang, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Youji Wang James Kar‐Hei Fang, James Kar‐Hei Fang, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Menghong Hu, Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang Youji Wang

Summary

Researchers exposed mussels to polylactic acid microplastics, both new and aged, combined with a flame retardant chemical for 14 days and measured effects on byssus thread gene expression. They found that aged biodegradable microplastics and the flame retardant each suppressed genes related to the adhesive byssal plaque, and their combined effects worsened with increasing concentration. The study emphasizes that even biodegradable plastics become more ecotoxic as they age in marine environments.

Polylactic acid (PLA), despite its biodegradability, readily degrades into aging microplastics (MPs) in marine environments, while tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), a representative organophosphorus flame retardant (OPFR), emerges as a concerning marine pollutant. To evaluate their combined effects and ecological risks, mussels were exposed to PLA (both virgin and aging at 0.2 and 1 mg/L), TCPP (0.5 μg/L) and their combination for 14 days, and the gene expressions related to byssus in PLA, aging PLA, TCPP, TCPP + PLA, TCPP + aging PLA treatment were analyzed. Exposed to 1 mg/L aging PLA or 0.5 μg/L TCPP alone suppressed the gene expression related to byssal plaque, respectively. Moreover, the combined effects of aging PLA and TCPP on byssus increased with increasing PLA concentration. Our study emphasizes that, aging would still enhance the ecotoxicity of MPs, even though they are biodegradable. Greater attention should be paid to the risks of PLA in the future.

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