Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in most ecosystems, including remote regions. The class of contaminants under the MNP umbrella is quite broad and encompasses variable polymer types, shapes, and sizes. Fibers are the most frequently detected in t...

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Main Authors: Sara J. Hutton, Lauren Kashiwabara, Erin Anderson, Samreen Siddiqui, Bryan Harper, Stacey Harper, Susanne M. Brander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Toxicology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1490223/full
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author Sara J. Hutton
Lauren Kashiwabara
Erin Anderson
Samreen Siddiqui
Bryan Harper
Stacey Harper
Stacey Harper
Susanne M. Brander
author_facet Sara J. Hutton
Lauren Kashiwabara
Erin Anderson
Samreen Siddiqui
Bryan Harper
Stacey Harper
Stacey Harper
Susanne M. Brander
author_sort Sara J. Hutton
collection DOAJ
description Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in most ecosystems, including remote regions. The class of contaminants under the MNP umbrella is quite broad and encompasses variable polymer types, shapes, and sizes. Fibers are the most frequently detected in the environment, followed by fragments, but still represent only a small fraction of laboratory studies. Many toxicity studies have been done using polystyrene microbeads which represent neither the polymer nor shape most present in the environment. Additionally, most of these studies are done using virgin particles when the majority of MNP pollution is from secondary microplastics which have weathered and broken down over time. To address these data gaps, we exposed the model fish Inland Silverside, Menidia beryllina, for 21-days to micro and nano cryo-milled tire particles, micro and nano polylactic acid, and polyester microfibers, both weathered and unweathered treatments were tested. We evaluated the impacts of these particles on growth, behavior, and gene expression to compare the relative toxicities of the different particles. We found that overall, the nanoparticles and weathered fibers had the greatest effect on behavior and gene expression. Gene ontology analysis revealed strong evidence suggesting MNP exposure affected pathways involved in muscle contraction and function. Unweathered microfibers decreased growth which may be a result of food dilution. Our results also suggest that under weathering conditions polyester microfibers breakdown into smaller sizes and induce toxicity similar to nanoparticles. This study highlights the variable effects of MNPs in fish and emphasizes the importance of considering particle shape and size in toxicity studies.
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spelling doaj-art-8d36e27f03474044b132c3c841ab56b52024-11-26T06:26:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Toxicology2673-30802024-11-01610.3389/ftox.2024.14902231490223Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particlesSara J. Hutton0Lauren Kashiwabara1Erin Anderson2Samreen Siddiqui3Bryan Harper4Stacey Harper5Stacey Harper6Susanne M. Brander7Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesFisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Department; Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesFisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Department; Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesSchool of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United StatesFisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Department; Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United StatesMicro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in most ecosystems, including remote regions. The class of contaminants under the MNP umbrella is quite broad and encompasses variable polymer types, shapes, and sizes. Fibers are the most frequently detected in the environment, followed by fragments, but still represent only a small fraction of laboratory studies. Many toxicity studies have been done using polystyrene microbeads which represent neither the polymer nor shape most present in the environment. Additionally, most of these studies are done using virgin particles when the majority of MNP pollution is from secondary microplastics which have weathered and broken down over time. To address these data gaps, we exposed the model fish Inland Silverside, Menidia beryllina, for 21-days to micro and nano cryo-milled tire particles, micro and nano polylactic acid, and polyester microfibers, both weathered and unweathered treatments were tested. We evaluated the impacts of these particles on growth, behavior, and gene expression to compare the relative toxicities of the different particles. We found that overall, the nanoparticles and weathered fibers had the greatest effect on behavior and gene expression. Gene ontology analysis revealed strong evidence suggesting MNP exposure affected pathways involved in muscle contraction and function. Unweathered microfibers decreased growth which may be a result of food dilution. Our results also suggest that under weathering conditions polyester microfibers breakdown into smaller sizes and induce toxicity similar to nanoparticles. This study highlights the variable effects of MNPs in fish and emphasizes the importance of considering particle shape and size in toxicity studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1490223/fullmicroplasticInland Silversidebehavioral toxicologyRNA seqnanoplasticmicrofiber
spellingShingle Sara J. Hutton
Lauren Kashiwabara
Erin Anderson
Samreen Siddiqui
Bryan Harper
Stacey Harper
Stacey Harper
Susanne M. Brander
Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
Frontiers in Toxicology
microplastic
Inland Silverside
behavioral toxicology
RNA seq
nanoplastic
microfiber
title Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
title_full Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
title_fullStr Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
title_full_unstemmed Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
title_short Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
title_sort behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles
topic microplastic
Inland Silverside
behavioral toxicology
RNA seq
nanoplastic
microfiber
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1490223/full
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