Polystyrene acts as a vector for the pharmaceutical, gemfibrozil, to bay scallop larvae (Argopecten irradians)

Both microplastics and gemfibrozil, a pharmaceutical used to treat heart disease, can be detected globally in coastal environments. Results from these experiments indicate that 15 μm polystyrene beads can be a vector for gemfibrozil to D-stage bay scallop larvae (Argopecten irradians) at low environmental concentrations (0.3 ng/L). After a 24-h acute exposure experiment, mortality rates were highest in the treatment with polystyrene beads with sorbed gemfibrozil, especially at the lowest concentrations of sorbed gemfibrozil. The lipid index (lipid area: body area) was significantly lower in the polystyrene beads with sorbed gemfibrozil than in all other treatments and controls. Additionally, a significant negative relationship between the lipid index and the gemfibrozil concentration on the polystyrene beads supports the conclusion that polystyrene can function as a vector for gemfibrozil to bay scallop larvae. After the acute exposure, the larvae were moved to clean water and raised for seven days till pediveliger development began. Continued effects on mortality, larval size and the lipid index were observed over the grow-out indicating the impact of microplastic as a vector even for short exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations of gemfibrozil on the survival and development of bay scallop larvae.