Dataset Information

Toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliquus: Effects of particle size and surface charge.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics (MPs) are perpetual contaminants that are mostly generated by human activity and are deposited in aquatic ecosystem. MPs may react differently in aquatic organisms depending on their size, surface charge, and concentration. The current investigation examined the interactions of polystyrene (PS) microplastics (of varied charges and sizes) with Scenedesmus obliquus, a unicellular phytoplankton. It is observed that 1 µm PS-MPs produced increased oxidative stress than 12 µm PS-MPs as indicated by total reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide and hydroxyl radical generation, and lipid peroxidation results. Additionally, decreased photosynthetic effectiveness, membrane integrity and esterase activity were also observed for the lower sized MPs. Antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and catalase (CAT) activity correlated well with the oxidative stress generation in the cells. The effects by both the sizes of MPs were dose dependent in nature. Given the importance of a rapidly developing scientific literature on the effects of MPs in freshwater organisms, understanding the dynamics of interactions with lower-level organisms becomes very relevant.

SUBMITTER: Natarajan L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9743658 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater algae <i>Scenedesmus obliquus</i>: Effects of particle size and surface charge.

Natarajan Lokeshwari L Natarajan Lokeshwari L Soupam Das D Dey Swarnali S Chandrasekaran Natarajan N Kundu Rita R Paul Subhabrata S Mukherjee Amitava A

Toxicology reports 20221025

Microplastics (MPs) are perpetual contaminants that are mostly generated by human activity and are deposited in aquatic ecosystem. MPs may react differently in aquatic organisms depending on their size, surface charge, and concentration. The current investigation examined the interactions of polystyrene (PS) microplastics (of varied charges and sizes) with <i>Scenedesmus obliquus</i>, a unicellular phytoplankton. It is observed that 1 µm PS-MPs produced increased oxidative stress than 12 µm PS-M ...[more]

PMID: 36518415

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Project description:Microplastics (MPs)' ingestion has been demonstrated in several aquatic organisms. This process may facilitate the hydrophobic waterborne pollutants or chemical additives transfer to biota. In the present study the suitability of a battery of biomarkers on oxidative stress, physiology, tissue function and metabolic profile was investigated for the early detection of adverse effects of 21-day exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs, sized 5-12 μm) in the liver and gills of zebrafish Danio rerio and perch, Perca fluviatilis, both of which are freshwater fish species. An optical volume map representation of the zebrafish gill by Raman spectroscopy depicted 5 μm diameter PS-MP dispersed in the gill tissue. Concentrations of PS-MPs close to the EC50 of each fish affected fish physiology in all tissues studied. Increased levels of biomarkers of oxidative damage in exposed fish in relation to controls were observed, as well as activation of apoptosis and autophagy processes. Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls and DNA damage responses differed with regard to the sensitivity of each tissue of each fish. In the toxicity cascade gills seemed to be more liable to respond to PS-MPs than liver for the majority of the parameters measured. DNA damage was the most susceptible biomarker exhibiting greater response in the liver of both species. The interaction between MPs and cellular components provoked metabolic alterations in the tissues studied, affecting mainly amino acids, nitrogen and energy metabolism. Toxicity was species and tissue specific, with specific biomarkers responding differently in gills and in liver. The fish species that seemed to be more susceptible to MPs at the conditions studied, was P. fluviatilis compared to D. rerio. The current findings add to a holistic approach for the identification of small sized PS-MPs' biological effects in fish, thus aiming to provide evidence regarding PS-MPs' environmental impact on wild fish populations and food safety and adequacy.

Dataset Information

Toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliquus: Effects of particle size and surface charge.

Publications

Toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater algae <i>Scenedesmus obliquus</i>: Effects of particle size and surface charge.

Similar Datasets

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