Project info

This project has received funding iunder the framework of JPI Oceans

Project logo

Project info

Acknowledgement of relevant funding agencies. Please find all logo’s on the following website:

https://epss-jpi-oceans.ptj.de/partners

Project logo

PLASTOX is supported by national funding agencies in the framework of JPI Oceans and other institutions

Microplastic-associated POPs:

Effects and Food Web Transfer

Andy Booth1, Iurgi Salaverria2, Paula Sobral3, Laura Airoldi4, Giulio Zanaroli4, Richard Sempere5, Susanne Kühn6, Kerstin Magnusson7, Thomas Doyle8, Liam Morrison8, Dorte Herzke9, Amaia Orbea10, Tamara Galloway11

Aim: To assess ingestion, accumulation and effects ofPOPs, metals and additive chemicals (ACs) associatedwith MPs to individual species, and follow transferbetween trophic levels.

Objectives

• Quantify uptake and accumulation of POPs, metalsand ACs associated with MPs.

• Study the effects of POPs, metals and ACsassociated with MPs.

• Determine if POPs, metals and ACs associated withMPs undergo trophic transfer.

• Investigate biotransformation of POPs associatedwith MPs by marine microbial communities.

1 SINTEF Ocean, Norway; 2 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; 3 FCT-NOVA, Portugal; 4 Alma Mater Studiorum - University ofBologna, Italy; 5 Aix-Marseille Université, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, France; 6 Wageningen Marine Research, Netherlands; 7 IVLSwedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden; 8 National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; 9 Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Norway;10 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Spain; 11 University of Exeter, United Kingdom

https://www.sintef.no/projectweb/plastox/

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Method developmentAim and Objectives

PLASTOX

WP4

Establish EquilibriumDissolve POP Add MPs

Exposure PreparationAccumulation Determined

Derive LC50/EC50

Derive LC50/EC50

Accumulation Determined

Accumulation & Toxicity AssessmentWill use a range of common POP and metal contaminants, selected MPs and test species.

In vivo and in vitro experiments with mussels

In vivo exposure of mussels to PS MPs previously incubated in 1 µM benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) leads to:• BaP accumulation in tissues

depends on MP size and exposure time

• Genotoxic damage in mussel haemocytes (Comet assay)

• No clear effects on physiological responses

In in vitro assays (MTT assay):• Co-exposure to nanoplastics and B(a)P or exposure to

microplastics (0.5 and 4.5 µm) with adsorbed B(a)P did not decreased cellular viability

[BaP] ng/g dw 7 days 26 days

0.5 µm MP + BaP 60.35 ± 8.98 292.05 ± 35.05

4.5 µm MP + BaP 27.15 ± 13.94 129.9 ± 47.80

Colonization of PCB-contaminated MPs by the bacterial community & biotransformation of MPs-adsorbed PCBs

• 5 types of MPs (PE, PET, PS, PP, PVC)• 2 sets of 20 mL microcosms: slurry

(sediment + water) and seawater from Piallassa Baiona (IT)

• Each consists of 2 sub-sets: o Pristine MPso PCB-contaminated MPs (Aroclor

1254, 30 mg/kg MP)• All microcosms inoculated with a PCB-

dechlorinating marine culture

3.5

3.8

4.1

4.4

4.7

5.0

5.3

5.6

5.9

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Cl/

bip

he

nyl

Incubation Time (weeks)

PE PET PS PP

PVC SEDIMENT STERILE PE STERILE PET

STERILE PS STERILE PP STERILE PVC

Reductive dechlorination of sorbed PCBs

• PCB dechlorination faster on MPs than on sediment• Dechlorination of sorbed PBCs: PP < PE < PET < PVC < PS

1.E+00

1.E+01

1.E+02

1.E+03

1.E+04

1.E+05

1.E+06

1.E+07

1.E+08

1.E+09

1

10

100

1000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

cells/g (P

VC

)

cells

/g (

PE,

PET

, PS,

PP

)

Incubation Time (weeks)

PE PET PS PP PVC

• No significant biofilm growth, except on PVC pellets (higher additive conc?)

Biofilm growth (crystal violet)

SMP = 0.5 µm MP; LMP = 4.5 µm MP; SMPB = 0.5 µm MP+BaP; LMPB = 4.5 µm MPs+BaP

Co-exposure to nanoplastics and BaP Exposure to microplastics with adsorbed BaP

Significant

differences (p<0.05)

with respect to

controls according

to the Kruskall-

Wallis analysis

followed by Dunn’s

post-hoc test with

Bonferroni’scorrection

In vivo studies, Joseph Hatfield

In vitro studies, Laura Sandoval

0.5 µm 4.5 µm0.05 µm MP + 1 µM BaP

Cont 102 104 105 106 107103 Cont 102 104 105 106 107103

particles/mL particles/mL

BaP 1 µM