Uptake, Elimination and Effects of Cosmetic Microbeads on the Freshwater Gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata

Abstract

The presence of plastic cosmetic microbeads in the environment due to their extensive use in society and inevitable dispersal into wastewater is concerning. Therefore, it is vital to understand the processes of microplastic uptake and elimination by aquatic organisms, and to further assess their potential to cause harmful effects and wider impacts. We therefore investigated the short-term (48-h) and long-term (21-d) uptake, elimination, and effects of exposure to polyethylene microbeads (a mixture of fragments and spheres extracted from commercially available facial scrubs) on the freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata. We found fast uptake in the short-term (75 μg/g/h) and the long-term (6.94 μg/g/h) in B. glabrata exposed to 800 particles/200-mL and 80 particles/200-mL, respectively. Irregular fragments were more easily ingested and egested compared to spheres (ANOVA, p < 0.05) in both 48-h and 21-d exposures. The mean size of the fragments in B. glabrata tissues (413 ± 16 μm) after 48-h exposure was significantly larger than that of the standard sample (369 ± 26 μm) (ANOVA, F3,20 = 3.339, p = 0.033), suggesting that aggregation in the gut may occur. Floating feces containing microbeads were observed in the long-term exposure, which could alter the fate, behavior, and bioavailability of egested microbeads. No significant effects on survival and growth were shown within 48-h or 21-d exposure periods. Thus, further studies on the specific features of microplastics (e.g., their shape and size) influencing uptake and elimination, as well as toxic molecular mechanisms, should be explored in future ecotoxicological studies.

Diversity of Freshwater Mollusks from Lake Pampulha, Municipality of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…These indicators not only make it possible to analyze the impacts of pollution, but also allow for monitoring the effects of revitalization interventions at Lake Pampulha. The use of mollusks, especially freshwater snails, as bioindicators in aquatic ecological studies is recognized due to the remarkable sensitivity of some species to environmental changes [90][91][92][93]. However, the need to develop specific protocols to evaluate the impacts of these contaminants on mollusks in the Brazilian context is highlighted [94,95].…”

Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health

“…Microplastics can be present in the air as a result of their release during manufacturing processes, transportation, and disposal. On the other hand, dermal exposure to microplastics can occur via the use of merchandises used in personal care that contain microbeads, for example facial scrubs and body washes [121,122]. Microplastics can also be present in clothing and textiles made of synthetic materials, which can shed microfibers during use and washing [123].…”

Using freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818) as a biological model for ecotoxicology studies: a systematic review

“…Among the numerous characteristics that favor the use of B. glabrata as a biological model, the sensitivity to environmental changes stands out, allowing the evaluation of cellular, tissue and behavioral responses, unlike other biological models such as cyanobacteria, microalgae and some microcrustaceans. This is one of the few biological models that allows the ecotoxicological study of water-insoluble residues, because through its scraping characteristic, it absorbs substances present at the bottom of the water (Pena et al, 2022;Wang et al, 2022;Caixeta et al, 2021;Lima et al,2019;Oliveira-Filho et al, 2019). Considering the potential of the snail as a biological model, the objective of this study was to present the main tests performed using Biomphalaria glabrata as a biological model for ecotoxicological assessments.…”

“…All the inclusion requirements presented had to be ful lled to be selected. Wang et al, 2022) were eligible for this systematic review (Fig. 1).…”