151
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Qu M, Luo L, Yang Y, Kong Y, Wang D. Nanopolystyrene-induced microRNAs response in Caenorhabditis elegans after long-term and lose-dose exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134131. [PMID: 31476495 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) usually act post-transcriptionally to suppress the expression of many targeted genes. However, the response of miRNAs to nanoplastics is still unclear. We here employed Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the response of miRNAs to 100 nm nanopolystyrene at a predicted environmental concentration (1 μg/L). After exposure from L1-larvae to adult day-3, we found that 7 miRNAs (4 down-regulated (mir-39, mir-76, mir-794, and mir-1830) and 3 up-regulated (mir-35, mir-38, and mir-354)) were dysregulated by nanopolystyrene. Expressions of these 7 miRNAs were dose-dependent in nematodes exposed to 1-100 μg/L nanopolystyrene. Among these 7 miRNAs, we found that only mir-35, mir-38, mir-76, mir-354, and mir-794 were involved in the regulation of response to nanopolystyrene based on phenotypic analysis of both transgenic strains and mutant nematodes. Overexpression of mir-35, mir-38, or mir-354 induced a resistance to nanopolystyrene toxicity, and overexpression of mir-76 or mir-794 induced a susceptibility to nanopolystyrene toxicity, which suggested that these 5 miRNAs mediated a protective response to nanopolystyrene. Gene ontology and KEGG analysis further implied that mir-35, mir-38, mir-76, mir-354, and mir-794 were associated with various biological processes and signaling pathways. Our results suggest the crucial role of a certain number of miRNAs in response to nanopolystyrene after long-term and low-dose exposure in organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Qu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Libo Luo
- Changzhou No. 7 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213011, China
| | - Yanhua Yang
- Changzhou No. 7 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213011, China
| | - Yan Kong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Dayong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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152
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Jeong J, Choi J. Adverse outcome pathways potentially related to hazard identification of microplastics based on toxicity mechanisms. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 231:249-255. [PMID: 31129406 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Increasing concern over microplastics has recently brought increased attention to studies on microplastic toxicity. Here, we conduct a systematic review on toxicity of microplastics that focuses on identifying data gaps in the mechanisms of microplastic toxicity. We observe that microplastic toxicology research thus far has focused on ecotoxicity using apical endpoints and only a few studies deal with toxicity mechanisms. Based on this review, we propose putative Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) applicable to microplastic management to understand microplastic toxicity. We matched toxicity mechanisms and apical endpoints to a key event (KE) and adverse outcome (AO) information from the AOP Wiki. Overall, our results suggest that the molecular initiating event (MIE) was reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and the AO was increased mortality, decreased growth and feeding, and reproduction failure. However, there are a limited number of studies on toxicity mechanisms of microplastics and, therefore, evidence concerning the relationship between KEs is not sufficient. Clearly, more studies on toxicity mechanisms are required to fill these gaps in data. This study also suggests that the AOP framework is a suitable tool to integrate existing data from various literature sources and can identify data gaps in microplastic toxicity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseong Jeong
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, South Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, South Korea.
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153
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Silva CJM, Silva ALP, Gravato C, Pestana JLT. Ingestion of small-sized and irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics affect Chironomus riparius life-history traits. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 672:862-868. [PMID: 30978548 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of freshwater ecosystems. Once in aquatic systems, most of these plastic particles undergo processes of fragmentation, biofouling, and sedimentation, resulting in increased concentrations of smaller sized and irregularly-shaped particles in the sediment. High levels of MPs in freshwater sediments can denote a potential threat to benthic and sediment-dwelling organisms such as dipteran larvae. This study evaluates the ecotoxicological effect of three pools of irregularly-shaped polyethylene (PE) microplastics (pools containing 90% of the particles within 32-63 μm (size-class A), 63-250 μm (size-class B) and 125-500 μm (size-class C)), with concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 20 g Kg-1 sediment, on the dipteran Chironomus riparius life-history traits. After ten days of exposure, larvae ingested PE particles typically in the 32-63 μm range, even when 90% of the particles possessed higher size (i.e., in size-classes B and C) and the larvae mandible allowed the ingestion of such bigger-sized particles. Thus, the number of ingested particles was higher in size-class A, followed by B and C, and led to a significant reduction with similar magnitude on larval growth (Lowest Observed Effect Concentrations (LOEC) = 2.5 g Kg-1 sediment DW) and a significant delay on imagoes emergence (e.g., LOEC = 1.5 g Kg-1 sediment DW for females). The results from this study show that the ingestion and persistence of small-sized polyethylene microplastics caused significant impairments on life-history traits of C. riparius. Considering their role on freshwater food-webs and the potential persistence of small-sized PE particles in their larval gut, these results also point for the potential adverse effects of small-sized microplastics at the community and ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J M Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana L Patrício Silva
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Faculty of Sciences & CESAM, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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154
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Franzellitti S, Canesi L, Auguste M, Wathsala RHGR, Fabbri E. Microplastic exposure and effects in aquatic organisms: A physiological perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2019; 68:37-51. [PMID: 30870694 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The impact of microplastics (MPs) on aquatic life, given their ubiquitous presence in the water compartment, represents a growing concern. Consistently, scientific knowledge is advancing rapidly, although evidence on actual adverse effects is still highly fragmented. This paper summarizes the recent literature on MP impacts on aquatic organisms in an attempt to link routes of uptake, possible alterations of physiological processes, and outcomes at different levels of biological organization. Animal feeding strategies and MP biodistribution is discussed, alongside with relevant effects at molecular, cellular, and systemic level. Pathways from animal exposure to apical physiological responses are examined to define the relevance of MPs for animal health, and to point out open questions and research gaps. Emphasis is given to emerging threats posed by leaching of plastic additives, many of which have endocrine disruption potential. The potential role of MPs as substrates for microorganism growth and vehicle for pathogen spreading is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Franzellitti
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Laura Canesi
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Manon Auguste
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Rajapaksha H G R Wathsala
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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155
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Li L, Su L, Cai H, Rochman CM, Li Q, Kolandhasamy P, Peng J, Shi H. The uptake of microfibers by freshwater Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) varies based upon physicochemical properties. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 221:107-114. [PMID: 30640001 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic is an umbrella term that covers particles with various physical and chemical properties. However, microplastics with a consistent shape, polymer type and size are generally used in exposure studies (e.g., spherical polyethylene or polystyrene beads 1-100 μm in size). In the present study, we exposed freshwater Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) to microfibers with different physicochemical properties at concentrations of 100 and 1000 fibers/L. The first experiment in this study exposed clams to microfibers made from six different polymers, demonstrating that Asian clams uptake more polyester (PET) (4.1 items/g) relevant to other polymers. The next experiment exposed clams to PET fibers of different size classes, demonstrating that uptake in the size range 100-250 μm (1.7 items/g) was greater than other size classes. These results suggest that physicochemical properties such as polymer and size play important roles in the uptake of microfibers by organisms. Thus, we strongly suggest that the properties of microplastics used in future laboratory exposure experiments be considered, with the aim of being "environmentally relevant", i.e., similar to what is found in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lei Su
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Huiwen Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Qipei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Prabhu Kolandhasamy
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jinping Peng
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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156
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McIlwraith HK, Lin J, Erdle LM, Mallos N, Diamond ML, Rochman CM. Capturing microfibers - marketed technologies reduce microfiber emissions from washing machines. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 139:40-45. [PMID: 30686443 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microfibers are a common type of microplastic. One known source of microfibers to the environment is domestic laundering, which can release thousands of fibers into washing machine effluent with every wash. Here, we adapted existing methods to measure the length, count and weight of microfibers in laundry effluent. We used this method to test the efficacy of two technologies marketed to reduce microfiber emissions: the Cora Ball and Lint LUV-R filter. Both technologies significantly reduced the numbers of microfibers from fleece blankets in washing effluent. The Lint LUV-R captured an average of 87% of microfibers in the wash by count, compared to the Cora Ball which captured 26% by count. The Lint LUV-R also significantly reduced the total weight and average length of fibers in effluent. While further research is needed to understand other sources of microfiber emissions, these available technologies could be adopted to reduce emissions from laundering textiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley K McIlwraith
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jack Lin
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Erdle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicholas Mallos
- Ocean Conservancy, 111 SW Columbia St, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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157
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Strungaru SA, Jijie R, Nicoara M, Plavan G, Faggio C. Micro- (nano) plastics in freshwater ecosystems: Abundance, toxicological impact and quantification methodology. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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158
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Fang C, Zheng R, Zhang Y, Hong F, Mu J, Chen M, Song P, Lin L, Lin H, Le F, Bo J. Microplastic contamination in benthic organisms from the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 209:298-306. [PMID: 29933166 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The seafloor is recognized as one of the major sinks for microplastics (MPs). However, to date there have been no studies reported the MP contamination in benthic organisms from the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Therefore, this study provided the first data on the abundances and characteristics of MPs in a total of 413 dominant benthic organisms representing 11 different species inhabiting in the shelf of Bering and Chukchi Seas. The mean abundances of MP uptake by the benthos from all sites ranged from 0.02 to 0.46 items g-1 wet weight (ww) or 0.04-1.67 items individual-1, which were lower values than those found in other regions worldwide. The highest value appeared at the northernmost site, implying that the sea ice and the cold current represent possible transport mediums. Interestingly, the predator A. rubens ingested the maximum quantities of MPs, suggesting that the trophic transfer of MPs through benthic food webs may play a critical role. Fibers constituted the major type (87%) in each species, followed by film (13%). The colors of fibers were classified as red (46%) and transparent (41%), and the film was all gray. The predominant composition was polyamide (PA) (46%), followed by polyethylene (PE) (23%), polyester (PET) (18%) and cellophane (CP) (13%). The most common sizes of MPs concentrated in the interval from 0.10 to 1.50 mm, and the mean size was 1.45 ± 0.13 mm. Further studies about the temporal trends and detrimental effects of MPs remain to be carried out in benthic organisms from the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Fang
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Ronghui Zheng
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Yusheng Zhang
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Fukun Hong
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Jingli Mu
- Division of Marine Chemistry, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Mengyun Chen
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Puqing Song
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Longshan Lin
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Heshan Lin
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Fengfeng Le
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
| | - Jun Bo
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, PR China.
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