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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Bird Embryo Development by Hatching without Eggshell
Published on: August 14, 2021
Polystyrene microplastic exposure alters the shell matrix proteome and compromises biomineralization in the
Chuang Liu1, Guansong Chen1, Jindong Xu1
1Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China.
Abstract:
The continuous growth of plastic production makes microplastic pollution a globally significant environmental issue. Biomineralization, vital for mollusk growth and development, provides essential shell protection and support. However, studies on microplastic impacts on freshwater snail biomineralization remain scarce. This research exposed Planorbarius corneus snails to 5-μm polystyrene microplastics for 51 days. The control group exhibited significantly higher shell-width growth rates and egg-laying volumes than the exposed group. Proteomic analysis of shell matrix proteins (SMPs) via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 213 SMPs in controls versus 189 in high-concentration exposed snails. Microplastics altered SMP composition and abundance, affecting tyrosinases, acidic matrix proteins, macroglobulins, and globins. This study reveals fundamental proteome-level disruptions in shell biomineralization caused by microplastics in freshwater snails.
