Exposure to microplastics cause gut damage, locomotor dysfunction, epigenetic silencing, and aggravate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Drosophila

Zhang, Yan; Wolosker, M; Zhao, Yingdong; Ren, Hongqiang; Lemos, Bernardo

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140979

Cited by 80 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Drosophila melanogaster has been used in many toxicological studies and recently has been utilised as a tool for the rapid assessment of microplastic mediated toxicity ( Zhang et al, 2020 ). Here we used D. melanogaster to assess the toxicity of two types of plastic: virgin microplastic with no added chemicals (PE) and industrial plastics known to have hazardous chemical additives (PVC).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that particle size is important for the strength of any plastic effects ( Lee et al, 2013 ; Haegerbaeumer et al, 2019 ; Silva et al, 2019 ). Using round 1 and 0.1 µm polystyrene beads, a study in D. melanogaster found gut damage and locomotion disfunction, amongst other effects ( Zhang et al, 2020 ). Our study used a more environmentally relevant plastic model: plastic fragments of irregular shape and sizes ranging from 23 to 500 µm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the soil arthropod Folsomia candida , ingestion of 1–63 µm PE microplastic beads is linked to behavioural changes, with reduced velocity and distance of movement ( Kim & An, 2020 ). Movement was also impaired by 0.1–1 µm PS microbead ingestion in Drosophila melanogaster ( Zhang et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transgenerational effects on development following microplastic exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Jiménez-Guri

Roberts

García

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Background Plastic pollution affects all ecosystems, and detrimental effects to animals have been reported in a growing number of studies. However, there is a paucity of evidence for effects on terrestrial animals in comparison to those in the marine realm. Methods We used the fly Drosophila melanogaster to study the effects that exposure to plastics may have on life history traits and immune response. We reared flies in four conditions: In media containing 1% virgin polyethylene, with no chemical additives; in media supplemented with 1% or 4% polyvinyl chloride, known to have a high content of added chemicals; and control flies in non-supplemented media. Plastic particle size ranged from 23–500 µm. We studied fly survival to viral infection, the length of the larval and pupal stage, sex ratios, fertility and the size of the resultant adult flies. We then performed crossings of F1 flies in non-supplemented media and looked at the life history traits of the F2. Results Flies treated with plastics in the food media showed changes in fertility and sex ratio, but showed no differences in developmental times, adult size or the capacity to fight infections in comparison with controls. However, the offspring of treated flies reared in non-supplemented food had shorter life cycles, and those coming from both polyvinyl chloride treatments were smaller than those offspring of controls.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transgenerational effects on development following microplastic exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Jiménez-Guri

Roberts

García

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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“…These findings also call for more research into the combined effects of MPs and other environmental pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and nanomaterials, as well as parasites and pathogens, on honey bee health. For example, exposure to MPs led to extensive particle size-dependent gut damage early in life and an enhancement of Cd-induced inhibition of locomotor-behavioral function in adult Drosophila flies [ 63 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Honey Bees at Risk from Microplastics?

Naggar

Brinkmann

Sayes

et al. 2021

Toxics

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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants, and have been detected in a wide variety of media, from soils to aquatic systems. MPs, consisting primarily of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylamide polymers, have recently been found in 12% of samples of honey collected in Ecuador. Recently, MPs have also been identified in honey bees collected from apiaries in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as nearby semiurban and rural areas. Given these documented exposures, assessment of their effects is critical for understanding the risks of MP exposure to honey bees. Exposure to polystyrene (PS)-MPs decreased diversity of the honey bee gut microbiota, followed by changes in gene expression related to oxidative damage, detoxification, and immunity. As a result, the aim of this perspective was to investigate whether wide-spread prevalence of MPs might have unintended negative effects on health and fitness of honey bees, as well as to draw the scientific community’s attention to the possible risks of MPs to the fitness of honey bees. Several research questions must be answered before MPs can be considered a potential threat to bees.

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“…Ingestion of microplastic can harm the GIT mechanically and lead to injury and tissue structure alteration ( Peda et al, 2016 ; Law, 2017 ). Various forms of physical damage in fish have been attributed to microplastic ingestion, such as intestinal lesions, dead tissue, and pro-inflammatory response ( Ahrendt et al, 2020 ; Solomando et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020 ). Microplastic ingestion has also been observed to affect digestive function, immune response, and microbiota dysbiosis ( Huang et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Holistic Assessment of Polyethylene Fiber Ingestion in Larval and Juvenile Japanese Medaka Fish

et al. 2021

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Microplastic pollution is of public concern for global environmental health, aquaculture, and fisheries. Toxicity studies have shown that microplastic ingestion may cause intestinal damage, microbiota dysbiosis, and disturb the lipid and energy metabolism in fish. To determine the impact of environmentally relevant, chronic, low dose microplastic fibers on fish health, medaka larvae, and juveniles were exposed to five concentrations of polyethylene (PE) fibers for 21 days through the feed. Fish growth and condition were assessed to determine the overall impact on fish health. To identify impaired energy intake, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) integrity was evaluated at the molecular and cellular levels. Microbiota analysis was performed by comparing the top seven most abundant phyla present in both larval and juvenile fish exposed to 0, 1.5, and 3 PE fibers/fish/day. A shift in the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were observed. Larval samples demonstrated decreased proteobacteria abundance, while juvenile samples displayed an increase in abundance. Relative gene expression of key digestive genes from GIT tissue was quantified using real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. An effect on digestive gene expression potentially affecting nutrient absorption and antioxidant production was indicated via a significant decrease of solute carrier family 6 member 6 expression in larvae exposed to 6 fibers/fish/day. No significant molecular changes were observed in juvenile GIT tissue, although a non-monotonous dose-response was observed. GIT morphology was analyzed using histomorphological observations of the GIT mucus and cell types. No significant impairment of the GIT epithelial layers was observed in larvae or juveniles. To assess growth and condition, Fulton’s condition factor was measured. No differences were observed in larval or juvenile growth. Comparisons of different developmental stages allowed for identifying vulnerable developmental stages for microplastic exposure; larvae were more susceptible to molecular changes, while shifts in juvenile microbial communities were similar to changes reported post-polystyrene microplastic sphere exposure. This study is one of the first to provide toxicological data on the risk of PE fiber ingestion during fish development stages. Results indicate no imminent threat to fish condition at current measured environmental levels of microplastics; however, close monitoring of vital spawning grounds for commercially important fishes is recommended.

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Exposure to microplastics cause gut damage, locomotor dysfunction, epigenetic silencing, and aggravate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Drosophila

Cited by 80 publications

References 48 publications

Transgenerational effects on development following microplastic exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Transgenerational effects on development following microplastic exposure in Drosophila melanogaster

Are Honey Bees at Risk from Microplastics?

A Holistic Assessment of Polyethylene Fiber Ingestion in Larval and Juvenile Japanese Medaka Fish

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