Effects of microplastics on bivalves: Are experimental settings reflecting conditions in the field?

Baroja, Estibaliz; Christoforou, Eleni; Lindström, Jan; Spatharis, Sofie

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112696

Cited by 27 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This allows for the hypothesis that the results obtained in the present study may resemble natural occurrences. Most previous works are based on higher test concentrations to allow establishing effect concentrations [62][63][64], which however makes drawing conclusions for the aquatic ecosystem health more difficult. Studies have determined the uptake of MPs by marine mussels, as well as the organism's ability to retain these particles for a length of time [31,33].…”

Section: Quantitative Histological Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation, Depuration, and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Spheres and Adsorbed Cadmium and Benzo(a)pyrene on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Hellfeld

Zarzuelo

Zaldibar

et al. 2022

Toxics

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Filter feeders are target species for microplastic (MP) pollution, as particles can accumulate in the digestive system, disturbing feeding processes and becoming internalized in tissues. MPs may also carry pathogens or pollutants present in the environment. This work assessed the influence of polystyrene (PS) MP size and concentration on accumulation and depuration time and the role of MPs as vectors for metallic (Cd) and organic (benzo(a)pyrene, BaP) pollutants. One-day exposure to pristine MPs induced a concentration-dependent accumulation in the digestive gland (in the stomach and duct lumen), and after 3-day depuration, 45 µm MPs appeared between gill filaments, while 4.5 µm MPs also occurred within gill filaments. After 3-day exposure to contaminated 4.5 µm MPs, mussels showed increased BaP levels whilst Cd accumulation did not occur. Here, PS showed higher affinity to BaP than to Cd. Three-day exposure to pristine or contaminated MPs did not provoke significant alterations in antioxidant and peroxisomal enzyme activities in the gills and digestive gland nor in lysosomal membrane stability. Exposure to dissolved contaminants and to MP-BaP caused histological alterations in the digestive gland. In conclusion, these short-term studies suggest that MPs are ingested and internalized in a size-dependent manner and act as carriers of the persistent organic pollutant BaP.

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Section: Quantitative Histological Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation, Depuration, and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Spheres and Adsorbed Cadmium and Benzo(a)pyrene on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Hellfeld

Zarzuelo

Zaldibar

et al. 2022

Toxics

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“…However, there has been little information to date on the interactions between marine fauna and microfibers, mostly because in some studies microfibers were excluded due to methodological issues, as high risk of airborne contamination during sampling and processing 16 , 19 , 20 . Nevertheless, microfibers may present a small diameter compatible with the feeding size range (around 15–30 μm) of filter feeding organisms, which allows their entrance in the bivalve digestive system through the narrower width, avoiding the mechanisms of the bivalves to filter out particles larger than ~ 100 μm 21 , 22 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A versatile approach to evaluate the occurrence of microfibers in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

Volgare

Santonicola

Cocca

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Microplastics of fibrous shape are esteemed to be the most abundant micro-debris form present in the environment. Despite the occurrence of microfibers in fish may pose a risk to human health, the literature is scarce regarding studies on the contamination in commercial marine fish mostly due to methodological issues. In this study, a versatile approach, able to discriminate among natural and synthetic microfibers according to the evaluation of specific morphological features, is proposed in farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The approach was useful to determine that microfibers were present in 74% of mussel samples, with a mean number of 14.57 microfibers/individual, corresponding to 3.13 microfibers/g w.w. A negative correlation between the size of analysed mussels and the amount of microfibers/g w.w. was detected, showing that smaller specimens contained more microfibers than the larger ones. This work paves the way to further studies aimed to adequately assess the risk that microfibers may pose to marine biota, also considering the commercial value as seafood items of many species of the Mytilus genus and the potential implication for human exposure.

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“…Such an experimental approach is particularly timely because recent experiments have used microplastics with adhered pathogens to assess whether microplastics may facilitate pathogen entry into marine food webs [88]. For designing adequate experiments looking for answers about the role of MMD in marine disease transmission, recent studies suggest that experiments in this regard should focus on fibres instead of spherical MMD and lower particle concentration levels for long-term exposure studies [37]. In addition, Baroja et al [37] point out the need for consensus on environmental microplastic sizes and concentrations for this type of laboratory experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microplastic exposure also activates stress responses and suppresses immune function in corals [35,36]. Experiments also need to consider the plastic type and particle size [37]. These factors affect not only the biofilm formation rate [38] but also the rate at which marine organisms ingest and accumulate the plastic [12] as well the plastic's toxicity [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Microplastics in Marine Pathogen Transmission: Retrospective Regression Analysis, Experimental Design, and Disease Modelling

Bidegain

Sestelo

Luque

et al. 2022

JMSE

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Marine wildlife and aquaculture species can accumulate large amounts of marine microplastic debris (MMD) (<1 mm) carrying pathogens, thus threatening the health of marine ecosystems and posing a risk to food safety and human health. Here, we outline a theoretical three-perspective approach for studying the relationship between MMD and disease. First, we provide a framework for retrospective analysis of MMD and pathogen loads in marine animal tissues to assess the relationship between these and other environmental variables in order to decide whether a compound or pathogen should be considered an emerging substance or organism. Second, we describe an experimental design for testing the effects of a variety of microplastics on infection intensity in two model species (oysters and zebrafish). Finally, we create a theoretical susceptible–infected microplastic particle and pathogen transmission model for bivalves and fish. Overall, the experiments and models we propose will pave the way for future research designed to assess the role of MMD as a vector for marine and human pathogens. This multi-faceted approach needs to be an urgent priority of the EU Strategic Research Innovation Agenda for addressing marine disease challenges related to MMD.

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Effects of microplastics on bivalves: Are experimental settings reflecting conditions in the field?

Cited by 27 publications

References 46 publications

Accumulation, Depuration, and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Spheres and Adsorbed Cadmium and Benzo(a)pyrene on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Accumulation, Depuration, and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Spheres and Adsorbed Cadmium and Benzo(a)pyrene on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

A versatile approach to evaluate the occurrence of microfibers in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

The Role of Microplastics in Marine Pathogen Transmission: Retrospective Regression Analysis, Experimental Design, and Disease Modelling

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