1
|
Zha H, Han S, Tang R, Cao D, Chang K, Li L. Polylactic acid micro/nanoplastic-induced hepatotoxicity: Investigating food and air sources via multi-omics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 21:100428. [PMID: 38800715 PMCID: PMC11127520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are detected in human liver, and pose significant risks to human health. Oral exposure to MNPs derived from non-biodegradable plastics can induce toxicity in mouse liver. Similarly, nasal exposure to non-biodegradable plastics can cause airway dysbiosis in mice. However, the hepatotoxicity induced by foodborne and airborne biodegradable MNPs remains poorly understood. Here we show the hepatotoxic effects of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MNPs through multi-omics analysis of various biological samples from mice, including gut, fecal, nasal, lung, liver, and blood samples. Our results show that both foodborne and airborne PLA MNPs compromise liver function, disrupt serum antioxidant activity, and cause liver pathology. Specifically, foodborne MNPs lead to gut microbial dysbiosis, metabolic alterations in the gut and serum, and liver transcriptomic changes. Airborne MNPs affect nasal and lung microbiota, alter lung and serum metabolites, and disrupt liver transcriptomics. The gut Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group is a potential biomarker for foodborne PLA MNP exposure, while nasal unclassified_Muribaculaceae and lung Klebsiella are potential biomarkers for airborne PLA MNP exposure. The relevant results suggest that foodborne PLA MNPs could affect the "gut microbiota-gut-liver" axis and induce hepatoxicity, while airborne PLA MNPs could disrupt the "airway microbiota-lung-liver" axis and cause hepatoxicity. These findings have implications for diagnosing PLA MNPs-induced hepatotoxicity and managing biodegradable materials in the environment. Our current study could be a starting point for biodegradable MNPs-induced hepatotoxicity. More research is needed to verify and inhibit the pathways that are crucial to MNPs-induced hepatotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zha
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengyi Han
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruiqi Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kevin Chang
- Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
García-Rodríguez A, Gutiérrez J, Villacorta A, Arribas Arranz J, Romero-Andrada I, Lacoma A, Marcos R, Hernández A, Rubio L. Polylactic acid nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs) induce adverse effects on an in vitro model of the human lung epithelium: The Calu-3 air-liquid interface (ALI) barrier. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 475:134900. [PMID: 38878440 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The expected increments in the production/use of bioplastics, as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics, require a deep understanding of their potential environmental and health hazards, mainly as nanoplastics (NPLs). Since one important exposure route to NPLs is through inhalation, this study aims to determine the fate and effects of true-to-life polylactic acid nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs), using the in vitro Calu-3 model of bronchial epithelium, under air-liquid interphase exposure conditions. To determine the harmful effects of PLA-NPLs in a more realistic scenario, both acute (24 h) and long-term (1 and 2 weeks) exposures were used. Flow cytometry results indicated that PLA-NPLs internalized easily in the barrier (∼10 % at 24 h and ∼40 % after 2 weeks), which affected the expression of tight-junctions formation (∼50 % less vs control) and the mucus secretion (∼50 % more vs control), both measured by immunostaining. Interestingly, significant genotoxic effects (DNA breaks) were detected by using the comet assay, with long-term effects being more marked than acute ones (7.01 vs 4.54 % of DNA damage). When an array of cellular proteins including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were used, a significant over-expression was mainly found in long-term exposures (∼20 proteins vs 5 proteins after acute exposure). Overall, these results described the potential hazards posed by PLA-NPLs, under relevant long-term exposure scenarios, highlighting the advantages of the model used to study bronchial epithelium tissue damage, and signaling endpoints related to inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alba García-Rodríguez
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Javier Gutiérrez
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Aliro Villacorta
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Jéssica Arribas Arranz
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | | | - Alicia Lacoma
- Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Laura Rubio
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen X, Xuan Y, Chen Y, Yang F, Zhu M, Xu J, Chen J. Polystyrene nanoplastics induce intestinal and hepatic inflammation through activation of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and related gut-liver axis in mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173458. [PMID: 38796000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) present in food and water poses a genuine risk of their accumulation in humans through the diet. Preferential contact between ingested NPs and the intestine as well as the liver has the potential to induce enteritis and hepatitis. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the inter-organ crosstalk between the intestine and liver when exposed to NPs, as well as the underlying signaling pathways involved. In this study, we employed a 21-day mice exposure model to investigate the accumulation profile of PS-NPs and elucidate the mechanism of intestinal and hepatic inflammation induced by NPs. After exposure, notable fluorescent signals originating from PS-NPs were detected not only in the stomach and intestine but also in other organs such as liver, lung, kidney, brain, and testes. Histopathological analysis along with routine blood tests both revealed an acute inflammatory reaction in mice. Further mechanistic investigations demonstrated that PS-NPs activated inflammatory NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and induced the expression of cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in the intestine, which recruited macrophages and neutrophils into the intestine. Concurrently, a significant decrease in the expression levels of intestinal tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1) was observed, resulting in an increase in intestinal permeability and elevated endotoxin (LPS) levels. The high levels of LPS further activated TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathways in the liver, inducing liver inflammation and hepatocyte pyroptosis. The impairment of liver function was positively correlated with intestinal inflammation and barrier disruption. These findings underscore that exposure to NPs can instigate enteritis and hepatitis while emphasizing the crucial role played by the indirect gut-liver axis in elucidating the potential mechanism underlying NP-induced liver pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuanwei Chen
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China
| | - Yang Xuan
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China
| | - Fanfan Yang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China
| | - Mengying Zhu
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China
| | - Jian Xu
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China.
| | - Jin Chen
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hang Zhou 310053, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Courtene-Jones W, Burgevin F, Munns L, Shillam MBT, De Falco F, Buchard A, Handy RD, Thompson RC, Hanley ME. Deterioration of bio-based polylactic acid plastic teabags under environmental conditions and their associated effects on earthworms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:172806. [PMID: 38772795 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
In response to the plastic waste crisis, teabag producers have substituted the petrochemical-plastic content of their products with bio-based, biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). Despite widespread use, the degradation rate of PLA/PLA-blended materials in natural soil and their effects on soil biota are poorly understood. This study examined the percentage mass deterioration of teabags with differing cellulose:PLA compositions following burial (-10 cm depth) in an arable field margin for 7-months, using a suite of analytical techniques, such as size exclusion chromatography, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of 28-d exposure to teabag discs at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.02 %, 0.04 % and 0.07 % w/w) on the survival, growth and reproduction (OECD TG 222 protocol) of the key soil detritivore Eisenia fetida was assessed in laboratory trials. After 7-month burial, Tbag-A (2.4:1 blend) and Tbag-B (3.5:1 cellulose:PLA blend) lost 66 ± 5 % and 78 ± 4 % of their total mass, primarily attributed to degradation of cellulose as identified by FTIR spectroscopy and a reduction in the cellulose:PLA mass ratio, while Tbag-C (PLA) remained unchanged. There were clear treatment and dose-specific effects on the growth and reproductive output of E. fetida. At 0.07 % w/w of Tbag-A adult mortality marginally increased (15 %) and both the quantity of egg cocoons and the average mass of juveniles also increased, while at concentrations ≥0.04 % w/w of Tbag-C, the quantity of cocoons was suppressed. Adverse effects are comparable to those reported for non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic, demonstrating that bio-based PLA does not offer a more 'environmentally friendly' alternative. Our study emphasises the necessity to better understand the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of PLA/PLA-blends to ensure interventions developed through the UN Plastic Pollution Treaty to use alternatives and substitutes to conventional plastics do not result in unintended negative consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Courtene-Jones
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK.
| | - F Burgevin
- Institute for Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - L Munns
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - M B T Shillam
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - F De Falco
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, PL4 8AA Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - A Buchard
- Institute for Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - R D Handy
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - R C Thompson
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - M E Hanley
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Villacorta A, Cazorla-Ares C, Fuentes-Cebrian V, Valido IH, Vela L, Carrillo-Navarrete F, Morataya-Reyes M, Mejia-Carmona K, Pastor S, Velázquez A, Arribas Arranz J, Marcos R, López-Mesas M, Hernández A. Fluorescent labeling of micro/nanoplastics for biological applications with a focus on "true-to-life" tracking. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135134. [PMID: 38986413 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The increased environmental presence of micro-/nanoplastics (MNPLs) and the potential health risks associated with their exposure classify them as environmental pollutants with special environmental and health concerns. Consequently, there is an urgent need to investigate the potential risks associated with secondary MNPLs. In this context, using "true-to-life" MNPLs, resulting from the laboratory degradation of plastic goods, may be a sound approach. These non-commercial secondary MNPLs must be labeled to track their presence/journeys inside cells or organisms. Because the cell internalization of MNPLs is commonly analyzed using fluorescence techniques, the use of fluorescent dyes may be a sound method to label them. Five different compounds comprising two chemical dyes (Nile Red and Rhodamine-B), one optical brightener (Opticol), and two industrial dyes (Amarillo Luminoso and iDye PolyPink) were tested to determine their potential for such applications. Using commercial standards of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPLs) with an average size of 170 nm, different characteristics of the selected dyes such as the absence of impact on cell viability, specificity for plastic staining, no leaching, and lack of interference with other fluorochromes were analyzed. Based on the overall data obtained in the wide battery of assays performed, iDye PolyPink exhibited the most advantages, with respect to the other compounds, and was selected to effectively label "true-to-life" MNPLs. These advantages were confirmed using a proposed protocol, and labeling titanium-doped PETNPLs (obtained from the degradation of milk PET plastic bottles), as an example of "true-to-life" secondary NPLs. These results confirmed the usefulness of iDye PolyPink for labeling MNPLs and detecting cell internalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliro Villacorta
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Camila Cazorla-Ares
- GTS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor Fuentes-Cebrian
- GTS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris H Valido
- GTS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Vela
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fernando Carrillo-Navarrete
- Institut d'Investigació Tèxtil i Cooperació Industrial de Terrassa (INTEXTER) and Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa 08222, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michelle Morataya-Reyes
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Karen Mejia-Carmona
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2-UAB-CSIC-BIST), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Susana Pastor
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Antonia Velázquez
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Jéssica Arribas Arranz
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
| | - Montserrat López-Mesas
- GTS Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu Y, Cao Y, Li H, Liu H, Bi L, Chen Q, Peng R. A systematic review of microplastics emissions in kitchens: Understanding the links with diseases in daily life. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108740. [PMID: 38749117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The intensification of microplastics (MPs) pollution has emerged as a formidable environmental challenge, with profound global implications. The pervasive presence of MPs across a multitude of environmental mediums, such as the atmosphere, soil, and oceans, extends to commonplace items, culminating in widespread human ingestion and accumulation via channels like food, water, and air. In the domestic realm, kitchens have become significant epicenters for MPs pollution. A plethora of kitchen utensils, encompassing coated non-stick pans, plastic cutting boards, and disposable utensils, are known to release substantial quantities of MPs particles in everyday use, which can then be ingested alongside food. This paper conducts a thorough examination of contemporary research addressing the release of MPs from kitchen utensils during usage and focuses on the health risks associated with MPs ingestion, as well as the myriad factors influencing the release of MPs in kitchen utensils. Leveraging the insights derived from this analysis, this paper proposes a series of strategic recommendations and measures targeted at mitigating the production of MPs in kitchen settings. These initiatives are designed not solely to diminish the release of MPs but also to enhance public awareness regarding this pressing environmental concern. By adopting more informed practices in kitchens, we can significantly contribute to the reduction of the environmental burden of MPs pollution, thus safeguarding both human health and the ecological system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinai Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Huiqi Li
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Huanpeng Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Liuliu Bi
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Renyi Peng
- Institute of Life Sciences & Biomedicine Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Key Lab of Biohealth Materials and Chemistry of Wenzhou, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ye H, Esfahani EB, Chiu I, Mohseni M, Gao G, Yang T. Quantitative and rapid detection of nanoplastics labeled by luminescent metal phenolic networks using surface-enhanced Raman scattering. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134194. [PMID: 38583196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The escalating prevalence of nanoplastics contamination in environmental ecosystems has emerged as a significant health hazard. Conventional analytical methods are suboptimal, hindered by their inefficiency in analyzing nanoplastics at low concentrations and their time-intensive processes. In this context, we have developed an innovative approach that employs luminescent metal-phenolic networks (L-MPNs) coupled with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to separate and label nanoplastics, enabling rapid, sensitive and quantitative detection. Our strategy utilizes L-MPNs composed of zirconium ions, tannic acid, and rhodamine B to uniformly label nanoplastics across a spectrum of sizes (50-500 nm) and types (e.g., polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polylactic acid). Rhodamine B (RhB) functions as a Raman reporter within these L-MPNs-based SERS tags, providing the requisite sensitivity for trace measurement of nanoplastics. Moreover, the labeling with L-MPNs aids in the efficient separation of nanoplastics from liquid media. Utilizing a portable Raman instrument, our methodology offers cost-effective, swift, and field-deployable detection capabilities, with excellent sensitivity in nanoplastic analysis and a detection threshold as low as 0.1 μg/mL. Overall, this study proposes a highly promising strategy for the robust and sensitive analysis of a broad spectrum of particle analytes, underscored by the effective labeling performance of L-MPNs when coupled with SERS techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haoxin Ye
- Food, Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Ehsan Banayan Esfahani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Ivy Chiu
- Food, Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Madjid Mohseni
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Guang Gao
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z2, Canada
| | - Tianxi Yang
- Food, Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T1Z4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Domenech J, Villacorta A, Ferrer JF, Llorens-Chiralt R, Marcos R, Hernández A, Catalán J. In vitro cell-transforming potential of secondary polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134030. [PMID: 38493621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Continuous exposure to plastic pollutants may have serious consequences on human health. However, most toxicity assessments focus on non-environmentally relevant particles and rarely investigate long-term effects such as cancer induction. The present study assessed the carcinogenic potential of two secondary nanoplastics: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles generated from plastic bottles, and a biodegradable polylactic acid material, as respective examples of environmentally existing particles and new bioplastics. Pristine polystyrene nanoplastics were also included for comparison. A broad concentration range (6.25-200 μg/mL) of each nanoplastic was tested in both the initiation and promotion conditions of the regulatory assessment-accepted in vitro Bhas 42 cell transformation assay. Parallel cultures allowed confirmation of the efficient cellular internalisation of the three nanoplastics. Cell growth was enhanced by polystyrene in the initiation assay, and by PET in both conditions. Moreover, the number of transformed foci was significantly increased only by the highest PET concentration in the promotion assay, which also showed dose-dependency, indicating that nano PET can act as a non-genotoxic tumour promotor. Together, these findings support the carcinogenic risk assessment of nanoplastics and raise concerns regarding whether real-life co-exposure of PET nanoplastics and other environmental pollutants may result in synergistic transformation capacities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josefa Domenech
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Box 40, Työterveyslaitos, 00032 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aliro Villacorta
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | | | | | - Ricard Marcos
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Alba Hernández
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Julia Catalán
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Box 40, Työterveyslaitos, 00032 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Alaraby M, Abass D, Farre M, Hernández A, Marcos R. Are bioplastics safe? Hazardous effects of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoplastics in Drosophila. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170592. [PMID: 38354814 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The expanded uses of bioplastics require understanding the potential health risks associated with their exposure. To address this issue, Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile terrestrial in vivo model was employed, and polylactic acid nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs), as a proxy for bioplastics, were tested as a material model. Effects were determined in larvae exposed for 4 days to different concentrations (25, 100, and 400 μg/mL) of 463.9 ± 129.4 nm PLA-NPLs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) approaches permitted the detection of PLA-NPLs in the midgut lumen of Drosophila larvae, interacting with symbiotic bacteria. Enzymatic vacuoles were observed as carriers, collecting PLA-NPLs and enabling the crossing of the peritrophic membrane, finally internalizing into enterocytes. Although no toxic effects were observed in egg-to-adult survival, cell uptake of PLA-NPLs causes cytological disturbances and the formation of large vacuoles. The translocation across the intestinal barrier was demonstrated by their presence in the hemolymph. PLA-NPL exposure triggered intestinal damage, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation responses, as evaluated via a wide set of marker genes. Collectively, these structural and molecular interferences caused by PLA-NPLs generated high levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage in the hemocytes of Drosophila larvae. The observed effects point out the need for further studies aiming to deepen the health risks of bioplastics before adopting their uses as a safe plastic alternative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Alaraby
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt.
| | - Doaa Abass
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Marinella Farre
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ma L, Wu Z, Lu Z, Yan L, Dong X, Dai Z, Sun R, Hong P, Zhou C, Li C. Differences in toxicity induced by the various polymer types of nanoplastics on HepG2 cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170664. [PMID: 38311080 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The problem of microplastics (MPs) contamination in food has gradually come to the fore. MPs can be transmitted through the food chain and accumulate within various organisms, ultimately posing a threat to human health. The concentration of nanoplastics (NPs) exposed to humans may be higher than that of MPs. For the first time, we studied the differences in toxicity, and potential toxic effects of different polymer types of NPs, namely, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) on HepG2 cells. In this study, PET-NPs, PVC-NPs, and PS-NPs, which had similar particle size, surface charge, and shape, were prepared using nanoprecipitation and emulsion polymerization. The results of the CCK-8 assay showed that the PET-NPs and PVC-NPs induced a decrease in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and their lowest concentrations causing significant cytotoxicity were 100 and 150 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the major cytotoxic effects of PET-NPs and PVC-NPs at high concentrations may be to induce an increase in intracellular ROS, which in turn induces cellular damage and other toxic effects. Notably, our study suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs may induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. However, no relevant cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, and apoptotic toxic effects were detected in HepG2 cells with exposure to PS-NPs. Furthermore, the analysis of transcriptomics data suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs could significantly inhibit the expression of DNA repair-related genes in the p53 signaling pathway. Compared to PS-NPs, the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes were down-regulated to a greater extent by PET-NPs and PVC-NPs. In conclusion, PET-NPs and PVC-NPs were able to induce higher cytotoxic effects than PS-NPs, in which the density and chemical structure of NPs of different polymer types may be the key factors causing the differences in toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zijie Wu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zifan Lu
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Linhong Yan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Xiaoling Dong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zhenqing Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Ruikun Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Pengzhi Hong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chunxia Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chengyong Li
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Tropical Ocean Environment in Western Coastal Water, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
| |
Collapse
|