Ingestion of small-sized and irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics affect Chironomus riparius life-history traits

Silva, C.; Silva, Ana L. Patrício; Gravato, Carlos; Pestana, João L.T.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.017

Cited by 123 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Deposit feeders may therefore be suitable as MP bioindicators in lotic freshwater systems since they are not only site-specific, but they can also indicate impacts over a period of time. In previous lab experiments, it has been shown that MP ingestion can affect the life history (Silva et al 2019 ) and survival, growth and emergence (Ziajahromi et al 2018 ) in chironomid larvae. Hence, those insects may also be negatively impacted by MP in the field.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater insects of different feeding guilds ingest microplastics in two Gulf of Guinea tributaries in Nigeria

Akindele

Ehlers

Koop

2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Plastic pollution has enormous impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystem health, and it is one of the topmost environmental concerns of the current geological period (i.e. the Anthropocene). Thus, the goal of our study was to provide baseline information and bridge the information gap on the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in African freshwater systems, using two tributaries of the Gulf of Guinea (Ogun and Osun Rivers) in Nigeria as a case study and three freshwater insect species of different feeding guilds as bioindicators. A total of 29 individuals of the insect species were chemically digested and subsequently analysed for MP presence under a digital microscope and a micro-Fourier-transform infrared (μFTIR) spectroscope. Collector-gatherers (Chironomus sp. and Siphlonurus sp.) recorded the highest MP load per gram wet weight, while the predatory Lestes viridis recorded the lowest. The highest diversity of polymers was recorded in Chironomus sp. of Ogun River, i.e. styrene ethylene butylene styrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), chlorinated polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), and polyester, while two polymers each were recorded in Siphlonurus sp. (i.e. polyester and ABS) and L. viridis (i.e. polyester and PP) of Osun River. We conclude that collector-gatherers like Chironomus sp. and Siphlonurus sp. could be best employed as MP bioindicators in freshwater systems. However, their suitability as MP bioindicators should be further investigated in different freshwater ecosystems worldwide.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater insects of different feeding guilds ingest microplastics in two Gulf of Guinea tributaries in Nigeria

Akindele

Ehlers

Koop

2020

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“… 21 − 25 The ingestion and/or adsorption of MPs has been suggested to cause adverse effects on toxicological end points at various levels of biological organization, generally observed in laboratory test systems at relatively high exposure concentrations. 21 , 22 , 24 − 26 Furthermore, experimental work has suggested that effects of MPs can occur at the community level (e.g., biodiversity, species composition), 27 , 28 population level (e.g., abundance), 29 individual level (e.g., survival, reproduction, growth, feeding, emergence, embryonic development, mobility, and physiology), 21 , 22 , 25 , 30 or suborganismal level (e.g., inflammation, reduced lysosomal stability in the digestive gland, reduced antioxidant capacity, DNA damage, neurotoxicity, oxidative damage, gut dysbiosis and alteration of the genetic expression, the ionic exchange, and enzymatic activity). 1 , 10 , 26 , 31 − 35 Several studies have speculated that elevated MP concentrations can cause physical damage (i.e., blockage of food passage), leading to a feeling of satiation and a reduced feeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality Criteria for Microplastic Effect Studies in the Context of Risk Assessment: A Critical Review

Ruijter

Redondo‐Hasselerharm

Gouin

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

228

224

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In the literature, there is widespread consensus that methods in plastic research need improvement. Current limitations in quality assurance and harmonization prevent progress in our understanding of the true effects of microplastic in the environment. Following the recent development of quality assessment methods for studies reporting concentrations in biota and water samples, we propose a method to assess the quality of microplastic effect studies. We reviewed 105 microplastic effect studies with aquatic biota, provided a systematic overview of their characteristics, developed 20 quality criteria in four main criteria categories (particle characterization, experimental design, applicability in risk assessment, and ecological relevance), propose a protocol for future effect studies with particles, and, finally, used all the information to define the weight of evidence with respect to demonstrated effect mechanisms. On average, studies scored 44.6% (range 20–77.5%) of the maximum score. No study scored positively on all criteria, reconfirming the urgent need for better quality assurance. Most urgent recommendations for improvement relate to avoiding and verifying background contamination, and to improving the environmental relevance of exposure conditions. The majority of the studies (86.7%) evaluated on particle characteristics properly, nonetheless it should be underlined that by failing to provide characteristics of the particles, an entire experiment can become irreproducible. Studies addressed environmentally realistic polymer types fairly well; however, there was a mismatch between sizes tested and those targeted when analyzing microplastic in environmental samples. In far too many instances, studies suggest and speculate mechanisms that are poorly supported by the design and reporting of data in the study. This represents a problem for decision-makers and needs to be minimized in future research. In their papers, authors frame 10 effects mechanisms as “suggested”, whereas 7 of them are framed as “demonstrated”. When accounting for the quality of the studies according to our assessment, three of these mechanisms remained. These are inhibition of food assimilation and/or decreased nutritional value of food , internal physical damage , and external physical damage . We recommend that risk assessment addresses these mechanisms with higher priority.

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“…When discarded into the environment, microplastics can cause detrimental effects to insects, such as malformation and inhibition of metabolism and reproductive function (Lee et al 2013;Von Moos et al 2012;Wright et al 2013). More specifically, studies have demonstrated that polyethylene (PE) microplastics adversely affect survival, growth, and adult emergence in dipteran flies of the genus Chironomus (Ziajahromi et al 2018;Silva et al 2019). Conversely, it was also reported that microplastics had no significant effects on mortality and growth in the Culex mosquito (Al-Jaibachi et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of microplastics and salinity on food waste processing by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

Cho

Kim

et al. 2020

j ecology environ

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Background: The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is gaining attention as an efficient decomposer of food waste. However, recalcitrant compounds such as plastics mixed into food waste may have negative effects on its growth and survival. Moreover, its efficiency of food waste degradation may also be affected by plastics. In addition, salt (NaCl) can also be present in high concentrations, which also reduces the efficiency of H. illucens-mediated food waste treatment. In this study, we assessed the growth of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) reared on food waste containing polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) and NaCl. The weight of BSFL was measured every 2-4 days. Survival and substrate reduction rates and pupation ratio were determined at the end of the experiment. Results: The total larval weight of Hermetia illucens reared on food waste containing PS was greater than that of the control on days 20 and 24. However, the survival rate was lower in the group treated with 5% PS, as was substrate reduction in all PS-treated groups. The weight of BSFL reared on food waste containing PE was lower than that of the control on day 6. PE in food waste did not affect the survival rate, but the pupation ratio increased and substrate consumption decreased with increasing PE concentrations. Regardless of the plastic type, the addition of NaCl resulted in decreased larval weight and pupation ratio. Conclusions: Larval growth of black soldier fly was inhibited not by plastics but by substrate salinity. Additional safety assessments of larvae reared on food waste containing impurities are needed to enable wider application of BSFL in vermicomposting.

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Ingestion of small-sized and irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics affect Chironomus riparius life-history traits

Abstract: et al., Ingestion of small-sized and irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics affect Chironomus riparius life-history traits, Science of the Total Environment,

Cited by 123 publications

References 41 publications

Freshwater insects of different feeding guilds ingest microplastics in two Gulf of Guinea tributaries in Nigeria

Freshwater insects of different feeding guilds ingest microplastics in two Gulf of Guinea tributaries in Nigeria

Quality Criteria for Microplastic Effect Studies in the Context of Risk Assessment: A Critical Review

Effects of microplastics and salinity on food waste processing by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae

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