Microplastics and associated contaminants in the aquatic environment: A review on their ecotoxicological effects, trophic transfer, and potential impacts to human health

Due to ingestion of contaminated foods, the human gastrointestinal tract is the most likely site of exposure to microplastics (MPs) with gut barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation. Aimed to assess the effects induced by MPs with different granulometry (polystyrene (PS) 3 and 10 µm), we performed an in vitro study by using the human intestinal cell line HT29. As a novelty, we assessed the sub-chronic exposure extending the treatment up to 48 days simulating the in vivo situation. In the range of 100–1600 particles mL−1, both the PS suspensions had moderate cytotoxicity after 24 h with percentages of mortality between 6.7 and 21.6 for the 10 µm and 6.1 and 29.6 for the 3 µm PS. Microscopic observation highlighted a more pronounced lysosomal membrane permeabilization in HT29 exposed to PS 3µm. Reactive oxygen species production was higher in cells exposed to PS 10 µm, but sub-chronic exposure highlighted the ability of the cells to partially neutralize this effect. Comet-assay confirmed the temporary oxidative damage that was PS-induced. Overall, considering the very fast turnover of intestinal cells, the increase in cell mortality, equal to 25% and 11% for 3 and 10 µm PS-MPs for each time point, could trigger intestinal disorders due to prolonged exposure.

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“…MPs can absorb several types of pollutants from the environment due to their large surface area which makes them efficient vehicles [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute and Sub-Chronic Effects of Microplastics (3 and 10 µm) on the Human Intestinal Cells HT-29

Visalli

Facciolà

Ciarello

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Although gastrointestinal foreign bodies in our investigation were small fragments, the negative effects caused should not be overlooked. Macroplastics may be retained in the stomach for a long period of time, and have the potential to decrease the feeding stimulus as well as providing a source of toxic pollutants (Ryan, 1987;Rios et al, 2007;Rochman et al, 2013;Puig-Lozano et al, 2018;Huang et al, 2021). Thereafter, the energy acquisition and health of affected cetaceans may be compromised, including decreased resistance to predators and diseases as well as reduced reproductive success (Laist, 1987;Ryan, 1987;Rios et al, 2007;Denuncio et al, 2011;Currie et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing 13 Years of Cetacean Strandings: Multiple Stressors to Cetaceans in Taiwanese Waters and Their Implications for Conservation and Future Research

Chou

Chiou

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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This study summarizes the postmortem investigations of 73 cetaceans stranded on the coast of Taiwan between 2001 and 2013, including 51 Delphinidae, 17 Kogiidae, 3 Ziphiidae, 1 Physeteridae, and 1 Balaenopteridae. Of these, eight (11%) were categorized into direct human-related strandings, including fisheries interaction (bycatch), vessel collision and other anthropogenic-related pathology. Gastrointestinal foreign bodies were found in eight individuals (11%). Most of the bacteria isolated from stranded dolphins were zoonotic pathogens including extended-spectrum β-lactamases Escherichia coli, which indicates waste pollution from land. Severe parasite infestation was found in 36 of the cases (49%), which suggests that the immune function could be compromised. Thirty-eight cases (52%) were diagnosed with myocardial patchy fibrosis or dilated cardiomyopathy. The evidence shown here indicates that cetaceans around Taiwanese waters may suffer from multiple stressors. This study provides baseline data for the health assessment of cetacean populations in Taiwan, which may ultimately provide recommendations for future cetacean conservation and research throughout the western Pacific.

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“…While no study has so far provided the direct evidence that microplastic ingestion can lead to the tissue accumulation of chemicals additives in fish species, Coffin et al (2019) demonstrated that in vivo fish gut simulated condition using the digestive enzyme enhanced the leaching of additives from plastics, which suggests that tissue accumulation in fish species is plausible. Studies using fish species are especially important considering the food web structure of marine ecosystems and the potential impact on human health through direct consumption (Campanale et al, 2020; Huang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies using fish species are especially important considering the food web structure of marine ecosystems and the potential impact on human health through direct consumption (Campanale et al, 2020;Huang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic transfer of microplastics enhances plastic additive accumulation in fish

Hasegawa

Mizukawa

et al. 2021

Preprint

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A variety of chemical additives are incorporated into plastics during their production process to give desirable properties. Although studies have suggested that microplastic ingestion can lead to accumulation of these chemicals in marine organisms, none provided the direct evidence in fish species. Here, we demonstrated the tissue accumulation of chemical additives in fish following microplastic ingestion. We exposed fish (Myoxocephalus brandti) to polyethylene microplastics compounded with brominated flame retardants (BFRs; BDE209, DBDPE) and ultraviolet stabilizers (UVs; UV-234, UV-327, BP-12) suspended in the water column, or to mysids (Neomysis spp.) pre-exposed to the same microplastics. Our results showed a maximum of 345-fold higher concentrations of additives in fish exposed to microplastics than the ambient sample. Also, fish fed plastic-exposed mysids accumulated significantly greater concentrations of BFRs in muscle than fish exposed to microplastics suspended in the water column (p < 0.001). This indicates that trophic transfer of microplastics has greater contribution to tissue accumulation of BFRs in fish than the waterborne ingestion. In contrast, no significant difference in the accumulation of UVs was found between the treatments, except for UV-327 in liver. These results suggests that the relative contribution between direct ingestion of microplastics from the water column and indirect ingestion via trophic transfer on tissue accumulation of additives in fish varies among compounds. Compounds with high molecular weight and high hydrophobicity like BDE209 and DBDPE were considered difficult to leach out from plastics, however, our study showed that trophic transfer of microplastics can facilitate the accumulation of such compounds from plastics to fish.

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Microplastics and associated contaminants in the aquatic environment: A review on their ecotoxicological effects, trophic transfer, and potential impacts to human health

Cited by 463 publications

References 382 publications

Acute and Sub-Chronic Effects of Microplastics (3 and 10 µm) on the Human Intestinal Cells HT-29

Acute and Sub-Chronic Effects of Microplastics (3 and 10 µm) on the Human Intestinal Cells HT-29

Analyzing 13 Years of Cetacean Strandings: Multiple Stressors to Cetaceans in Taiwanese Waters and Their Implications for Conservation and Future Research

Trophic transfer of microplastics enhances plastic additive accumulation in fish

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