Direct and indirect effects of different types of microplastics on freshwater prey (Corbicula fluminea) and their predator (Acipenser transmontanus)

Rochman, Chelsea M.; Parnis, J. Mark; Browne, Mark A. Oakley; Serrato, Sebastian; Reiner, Eric J.; Robson, Matthew; Young, Thomas M.; Diamond, Miriam L.; Teh, Swee J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187664

Cited by 121 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…typically one) trophic level. 4 , 12 14 , 48 , 82 Although consistent with current bioaccumulation theory, our model also has several limitations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Accumulation of Plastic Debris and Associated Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs

Diepens

Koelmans

2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

231

115

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We present a generic theoretical model (MICROWEB) that simulates the transfer of microplastics and hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOC) in food webs. We implemented the model for an Arctic case comprised of nine species including Atlantic cod and polar bear as top predator. We used the model to examine the effect of plastic ingestion on trophic transfer of microplastics and persistent HOCs (PCBs) and metabolizable HOCs (PAHs), spanning a wide range of hydrophobicities. In a scenario where HOCs in plastic and water are in equilibrium, PCBs biomagnify less when more microplastic is ingested, because PCBs biomagnify less well from ingested plastic than from regular food. In contrast, PAHs biomagnify more when more microplastic is ingested, because plastic reduces the fraction of PAHs available for metabolization. We also explore nonequilibrium scenarios representative of additives that are leaching out, as well as sorbing HOCs, quantitatively showing how the above trends are strengthened and weakened, respectively. The observed patterns were not very sensitive to modifications in the structure of the food web. The model can be used as a tool to assess prospective risks of exposure to microplastics and complex HOC mixtures for any food web, including those with relevance for human health.

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“…typically one) trophic level. 4 , 12 14 , 48 , 82 Although consistent with current bioaccumulation theory, our model also has several limitations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Accumulation of Plastic Debris and Associated Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs

Diepens

Koelmans

2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

231

115

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“…As such, bivalves, particularly blue mussels and eastern oysters (Boening 1999), have long been used as metal biomonitors in the marine environment, and interest in their use in freshwater systems is emerging ( Johns 2011). Finally, recent work indicates that bivalves may be good biomonitors for ecological impacts of microplastics (Rochman et al 2017).…”

Section: Soft Tissuementioning

confidence: 99%

Bivalve Impacts in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems

Vaughn

Hoellein

2018

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

212

126

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Bivalve molluscs are abundant in marine and freshwater ecosystems and perform important ecological functions. Bivalves have epifaunal or infaunal lifestyles but are largely filter feeders that couple the water column and benthos. Bivalve ecology is a large field of study, but few comparisons among aquatic ecosystems or lifestyles have been conducted. Bivalves impact nutrient cycling, create and modify habitat, and affect food webs directly (i.e., prey) and indirectly (i.e., movement of nutrients and energy). Materials accumulated in soft tissue and shells are used as environmental monitors. Freshwater mussel and oyster aggregations in rivers and estuaries are hot spots for biodiversity and biogeochemical transformations. Historically, human use includes food, tools, currency, and ornamentation. Bivalves provide direct benefits to modern cultures as food, building materials, and jewelry and provide indirect benefits by stabilizing shorelines and mitigating nutrient pollution. Research on bivalve-mediated ecological processes is diverse, and future synthesis will require collaboration across conventional disciplinary boundaries.

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“…While this identifies microplastics as a potential source for pollutants in general, the relative importance of microplastics as vector is not clarified. After exposure of bivalves with environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics spiked with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), no PCBs could be detected in the bivalves, and in fish which were feeding on the bivalves [ 36 ]. Model-based studies indicate that the vector function of microplastics is negligible in the environment compared to other uptake pathways and that sorption equilibrium can be assumed for most marine microplastics on relevant timescales [ 3 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics Reduce Short-Term Effects of Environmental Contaminants. Part I: Effects of Bisphenol A on Freshwater Zooplankton Are Lower in Presence of Polyamide Particles

Rehse

Kloas

Zarfl

2018

IJERPH

110

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Microplastics can have direct physical effects on organisms in freshwater systems, and are considered as vectors for absorbed environmental pollutants. It is still under discussion if microplastics are relevant pollutant vectors for uptake into aquatic organisms in comparison to further uptake pathways, e.g., via water or sediment particles. We analyzed how the presence of microplastics (polyamide particles, PA) modifies acute effects of the environmental pollutant bisphenol A (BPA) on freshwater zooplankton (Daphnia magna). Daphnids were exposed to PA particles and BPA alone, before combining them in the next step with one concentration of PA and varying concentrations of BPA. The PA particles themselves did not induce negative effects, while the effects of BPA alone followed a typical dose-dependent manner. Sorption of BPA to PA particles prior to exposure led to a reduction of BPA in the aqueous phase. The combination of BPA and PA led to decreased immobilization, although PA particles loaded with BPA were ingested by the daphnids. Calculations based on physiochemistry and equilibrium assumptions indicated lower BPA body burden of daphnids in the presence of PA particles. These results confirm model-based studies, and show that investigated microplastic concentrations are negligible for the overall pollutant uptake of daphnids with water as additional uptake pathway.

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Direct and indirect effects of different types of microplastics on freshwater prey (Corbicula fluminea) and their predator (Acipenser transmontanus)

Cited by 121 publications

References 48 publications

Accumulation of Plastic Debris and Associated Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs

Accumulation of Plastic Debris and Associated Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs

Bivalve Impacts in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems

Microplastics Reduce Short-Term Effects of Environmental Contaminants. Part I: Effects of Bisphenol A on Freshwater Zooplankton Are Lower in Presence of Polyamide Particles

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