Can the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and engineered nanoclays on flatfish (Solea senegalensis) be influenced by the presence of each other?

abstract

Microplastics and nanomaterials are applied in a myriad of commercial and industrial applications. When leaked to natural environments, such small particles might threaten living organisms' health, particularly when considering their potential combination that remains poorly investigated. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical effects of polyethylene (PE; 64-125 mu m in size, 0.1,1.0, and 10.0 mg.L-1) single and combined with an engineered nanomaterial applied in antifouling coatings, the copper-aluminium layered double hydroxides (Cu-Al LDH; 0.33, 1.0, and 3.33 mg.L-1) in the flatfish Solea senegalensis larvae (8 dph) after 3 h exposure, in a full factorial design. Particles ingestion, histopathology, and biochemical biomarkers were assessed. Fish larvae presented <1 PE particles in their gut, independently of their concentration in the medium. The histological health index showed minimal pathological alterations at PE combined exposure, with a higher value observed at 1 mg LDH.L-1 x 0.1 mg PE.L-1. Gut deformity and increased antioxidant defences (catalase), neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase), and aerobic energy production (electron transport system) were observed at PE >= 1.0 mg.L-1. No oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) or alterations in the detoxification capacity (glutathione-S-transferase) was observed on single and combined exposures. PE, combined or not with Cu-Al LDH, does not seem to compromise larvae's homeostasis considering levels reported so far in the marine and aquaculture environments. However, harsh effects are expected with MP contamination rise, as projections suggest. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

keywords

ANTI-FOULING NANOMATERIALS; MULTIPLE BIOMARKERS; FISH; SEA; INGESTION; CONTAMINATION; EXPOSURE; LARVAE; ECOTOXICITY; MICROBEADS

subject category

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

authors

Santana, LMBM; Rodrigues, ACM; Campos, D; Kaczerewska, O; Figueiredo, J; Silva, S; Sousa, I; Maia, F; Tedim, J; Abessa, DMS; Pousao-Ferreira, P; Candeias-Mendes, A; Soares, F; Castanho, S; Soares, AMVM; Rocha, RJM; Gravato, C; Silva, ALP; Martins, R

Groups

G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings

Projects

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)

acknowledgements

This work was supported by the bilateral project funded by CAPES (Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel project no 88887.156404/2017-00; and post-doctoral scholarship grant no. 88887.296172/2018-00) and FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; 4265 DRI/FCT) . Thanks are due to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020 & UIDB/50017/2020) , and to CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020) , through FCT/MCTES national funds; to the Integrated Program of SR&T D'Smart Valorisation of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate (Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018) co-funded by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund; and to the Project DIVERSIAQUA II (Mar2020-P02M01-0656P) . Dr. Roberto Martins and Dr. Ana L. Patricio Silva are funded by an FCT research contract (CEECIND/01329/2017 and CEECIND/01366/2018, respectively) . Dr. Denis Abessa thanks the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; grant #308533/2018-6) for the financial support.