Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish

Toxicity of polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (MPs), either virgin or spiked with chemicals, was evaluated in two short-lived fish using a freshwater species, zebrafish, and a marine species, marine medaka. Exposures were performed through diet using environmentally relevant concentrations of MPs over 4 months. No modification of classical biomarkers, lipid peroxidation, genotoxicity or F0 behaviour was observed. A significant decrease in growth was reported after at least two months of exposure. This decrease was similar between species, independent from the type of MPs polymer and the presence or not of spiked chemicals, but was much stronger in females. The reproduction was evaluated and it revealed a significant decrease in the reproductive output for both species and in far more serious numbers in medaka. PVC appeared more reprotoxic than PE as were MPs spiked with PFOS and benzophenone-3 compared to MPs spiked with benzo[a]pyrene. Further, PVC-benzophenone-3 produced behavioural disruption in offspring larvae. These results obtained with two species representing different aquatic environments suggest that microplastics exert toxic effects, slightly different according to polymers and the presence or not of sorbed chemicals, which may lead in all cases to serious ecological disruptions.

Keyword(s)

Polyethylene, Polyvinyl chloride, Adsorbed chemicals, Growth alteration, Reproductive toxicity

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Cormier Bettie, Le Bihanic Florane, Cabar Mathieu, Crebassa Jean-Claude, Blanc Melanie, Larsson Maria, Dubocq Florian, Yeung Leo, Clérandeau Christelle, Keiter Steffen H., Cachot Jerome, Bégout Marie-Laure, Cousin Xavier (2021). Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish. Journal Of Hazardous Materials. 415. 125626 (14p.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125626, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00684/79573/

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