Sublethal Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Embryonic Development of Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Currents, wave motion, solar radiation, and abrasion are mechanisms responsible for the degradation of large plastic artifacts and contribute to the dispersion of micro and nanoplastics into aquatic ecosystems, which are, currently, the most dangerous threats due to their invisibility and persistence. The present work evaluated the possible lethal and sublethal effects of amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (nPS-NH2) with diameters of 50 nm and 100 nm on Artemia salina (A. salina), an organism at the base of the trophic chain of the aquatic system, using a widely used model for the analysis of embryotoxicity from environmental pollutants. For this purpose, after evaluating the biodistribution of nanoplastics in the body of the tested animals, several endpoints such as anomalies, apoptosis, and ROS production were assessed. In addition, particular attention was dedicated to evaluating the correlation between toxicity and the particle size tested. The results reported that, despite the absence of a lethal impact, several sublethal effects involving gut and body size malformations, as well as the enhancement of apoptosis and oxidative stress in relation to an increase in tested concentration and a decrease in nanoparticle size.

Comparative toxicity of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene nanoplastics on Artemia franciscana nauplii: a multidimensional assessment

“…Similar findings of increased apoptosis at higher concentrations of PS-NP were reported by Suman, Jia 27 and Contino, Ferruggia. 49…”

Anthropogenic Microparticles Abundance in Sandy Beach Sediments along the Tetouan Coast (Morocco Mediterranean)

“…Due to their similarity to natural prey and small sizes, AMs can be rapidly ingested by a wide range of marine animals, including fish, invertebrates, mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds [29][30][31][32][33][34]. Several studies shown that ingested AMs can lead to movement restrictions, weight loss, decreased food intake, reproductive dysfunction, stress, increased mortality rates, growth deceleration, and accumulation in soft tissues of marine organisms [35][36][37][38][39][40]. Moreover, AMs serve as vectors for the transport of toxic chemical pollutants, including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pharmaceuticals [41,42], thereby increasing the bioavailability of these chemicals in the food chain [43].…”

Posidonia Spheroids Intercepting Plastic Litter: Implications for Beach Clean-Ups

“…Plastic litter has the potential to adversely affect marine ecosystems by transporting toxic substances adsorbed on their surfaces [5]. Additionally, plastics can serve as vectors for invasive species [6] and can have detrimental effects on marine organisms [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Moreover, plastic litter can affect the marine trophic web [13,14] since plastics are also ingested by marine biota [15,16], and once ingested, can translocate into cells and tissues [17][18][19].…”