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Microplastics may induce food dilution and endocrine disrupting effects in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and

Kennedy Bucci1, Malak Bayoumi1, Kathleen Stevack2

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Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
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Summary

Microplastics harm fathead minnows throughout their lifecycle, affecting growth and reproduction. Environmentally sourced microplastics cause endocrine disruption, impacting egg viability and offspring development in forage fish.

Keywords:
Adverse outcome pathwayFathead minnowsMicroplasticMultigenerational effectsThis PDF file includes

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Aquatic Toxicology

Background:

  • Microplastics are pervasive environmental contaminants with unclear impact mechanisms.
  • Previous research often focused on single endpoints, lacking an integrated, multi-level approach.
  • Understanding microplastic effects across an organism's entire lifecycle is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the lifecycle impacts of microplastics on fathead minnows.
  • To differentiate effects between preconsumer and environmentally sourced microplastics.
  • To explore potential endocrine-disrupting mechanisms of microplastic contamination.

Main Methods:

  • Fathead minnows were exposed to microplastics from egg to reproductive stages.
  • Offspring from exposed parents were raised in clean water to assess transgenerational effects.
  • Growth, lipid storage, coloration, reproductive output, egg viability, and offspring malformations were measured.

Main Results:

  • Both microplastic types affected adult growth, lipid storage, and coloration, suggesting food dilution.
  • Environmentally sourced microplastics induced endocrine disruption in parents and offspring at low doses.
  • Delayed egg production, reduced egg viability, and increased offspring malformations were observed with environmentally sourced microplastics.

Conclusions:

  • Microplastic exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations poses risks to forage fish populations.
  • Integrative, lifecycle-based studies are essential for understanding microplastic ecotoxicological mechanisms.
  • Endocrine disruption is a key impact pathway for microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.