Effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems
Camilla C. CartenyEPHEMARE project, University
of Antwerp
Plastic litter: size DOES matter
Macro-litter Micro-litter Nano-litter
Organismal level Organism/tissue level Cellular level
Macro-litter
External trauma Internal trauma
• Entanglement• Constriction
• Suffocation• Intestinal occlusion
Not all that glitters is gold (or food)
Micro-litter
Nutrient loss Stress response Other organismal responses
Toxicity of additives Vectors of pollutants Vectors of pathogens
Nutrient lossIngestion of plastic
particles
Lack of appropriate nutrient intake
Impaired/negative growthLow metabolism
Majority of food intake is plastics rather than food
Alteration of energy balance
Stress responseOxidative stress
Antioxidant enzymes
Reactive oxygen species
• Enzymatic activity• Gene expression
➢ Acute exposure: increase in antioxidant defences
➢ Chronic exposure: decrease in antioxidant defences
Cellular structure/DNA damage
Other responses
Neurotoxicity Behaviour
?
➢ Fish confuse microplastics for food
➢ Hunting ability decreases
➢ Perhaps they develop a taste for it?
Acetylcholine
coline
Acetylcholinesterase
acetate
➢ Microplastics impair the activity of
the acetylcholinesterase
➢ Possible implications for behaviour?
Other responses
Swimming Reproduction
➢ Microplastics decrease swimming
ability
➢ Unclear mechanism of action
➢ Mechanistic impediment?
➢ Microplastics diminish reproduction
success
➢ Different energy allocation?
Toxicity of additives
Bisphenol A
Phthalates
Plasticisers, dyes, flame retardants, UV filters….
Endocrine disruptor
Endocrine disruptors, developmental toxins
• Impaired reproduction• Delayed or stunted
development
Extinction of endangered species
Vectors of pollutants
Particles are ingested Digestive process Pollutants are accumulated in tissues
Parental transfer
Compromised storage
Fat
• Hydrocarbons• Pesticides• Polychlorobiphenyls• Perfluorinated compounds• Flame retardants
Vectors of pathogens
“plastisphere”Bacteria
Fungi
Viruses
Aeromonas salmonicida
Trophic transfer
biomagnification
An uncharted world: nano-litter
➢ Difficult detection and handling➢ Uncertainty over environmental levels➢ Nanoplastics can penetrate inside membranes and cells
Smaller size = higher toxicity
Micro vs. Nano
Similar effects on marine biota
but
Thank you for your attention
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