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Synergistic effect of microplastic fragments and benzophenone-3 additives on lethal and sublethal Daphnia magna
Joorim Na1, Jinyoung Song1, Jerry Collince Achar1
1Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The interactive effect of polyethylene microplastic (MP) fragments and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) additives on Daphnia magna was assessed in the present study. The 48 h median effective concentration (EC50) revealed that MP fragments (37.24 ± 11.76 μm; 3.90 mg L-1) were over 80 times more acutely toxic than polyethylene microbeads (37.05 ± 3.96 μm; 323 mg L-1), possibly because of their irregular shape and high specific surface area. Moreover, the addition of BP-3 (10.27 ± 0.40 % w/w) to MP fragments (MP + BP-3) resulted in greater acute toxicity to D. magna (EC50 = 0.99 mg L-1) compared to MP fragments (EC50 = 3.90 mg L-1) or BP-3 (EC50 = 2.29 mg L-1) alone. Additionally, MP + BP-3 exposure induced a synergistic increase in reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation in D. magna. These synergistic effects can be attributed to enhanced bioconcentrations of BP-3 in D. magna caused by MP fragments. These findings suggest that MP fragments containing chemical additives represent a synergistic ecological risk and have the potential to harm aquatic organisms.
Insights
Polyethylene microplastic fragments are more toxic than microbeads. When combined with the additive benzophenone-3, microplastics pose a synergistic ecological risk to aquatic life.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
- Aquatic Ecology
Background:
- Microplastics (MP) are emerging environmental contaminants.
- Chemical additives, such as benzophenone-3 (BP-3), are commonly found in plastics.
- The combined effects of MPs and additives on aquatic organisms are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactive toxicity of polyethylene microplastic fragments and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) on the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna.
- To compare the toxicity of MP fragments versus microbeads.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the combined toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Acute toxicity tests were conducted on Daphnia magna exposed to MP fragments, BP-3, or a combination of both.
- Median effective concentrations (EC50) were determined for each exposure scenario.
- Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and lipid peroxidation (LPO), were measured.
Main Results:
- Polyethylene microplastic fragments exhibited significantly higher acute toxicity (EC50 = 3.90 mg L⁻¹) than polyethylene microbeads (EC50 = 323 mg L⁻¹).
- The combination of MP fragments and BP-3 (MP + BP-3) demonstrated synergistic toxicity (EC50 = 0.99 mg L⁻¹), which was greater than either MP fragments or BP-3 alone.
- MP + BP-3 exposure led to a synergistic increase in ROS, TAC, and LPO in Daphnia magna, indicating enhanced oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Polyethylene microplastic fragments pose a greater acute risk to Daphnia magna than microbeads due to their physical properties.
- The presence of BP-3 significantly enhances the toxicity of MP fragments, leading to synergistic adverse effects.
- MP fragments facilitate the bioconcentration of BP-3 in aquatic organisms, amplifying the ecological risk of plastic-associated chemicals.
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