Affiliations 

  • 1 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
  • 2 China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, Selangor Darul Ehsan 43900, Malaysia
  • 3 Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies/College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China. Electronic address: mhwang45@xmu.edu.cn
Aquat Toxicol, 2023 May;258:106497.
PMID: 36940520 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106497

Abstract

The continuous fragmentation of plastics and release of synthetic nanoplastics from products have been aggravating nanoplastic pollution in the marine ecosystem. The carrier role of nanoplastics may increase the bioavailability and toxicity effects of toxic metals, e.g., mercury (Hg), which is of growing concern. Here, the copepod Tigriopus japonicus was exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) and Hg (alone or combined) at environmental realistic concentrations for three generations (F0-F2). Then, Hg accumulation, physiological endpoints, and transcriptome were analyzed. The results showed that the copepod's reproduction was significantly inhibited under PS NPs or Hg exposure. The presence of PS NPs caused significantly higher Hg accumulation, lower survival, and lower offspring production in copepods relative to Hg exposure, suggesting an increased threat to the copepod's survivorship and health. From the molecular perspective, combined PS NPs and Hg caused a graver effect on the DNA replication, cell cycle, and reproduction pathways relative to Hg exposure, linking to lower levels of survivorship and reproduction. Taken together, this study provides an early warning of nanoplastic pollution for the marine ecosystem not only because of their adverse effect per se but also their carrier role for increasing Hg bioaccumulation and toxicity in copepods.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.