Microplastic ingestion decreases energy reserves in marine worms
Open accessAbstract
The indiscriminate disposal of plastic to the environment is of concern. Microscopic plastic litter (<5 mm diameter; 'microplastic') is increasing in abundance in the marine environment, originating from the fragmentation of plastic items and from industry and personal-care products [1]. On highly impacted beaches, microplastic concentrations (<1mm) can reach 3% by weight, presenting a global conservation issue [2]. Microplastics are a novel substrate for the adherence of hydrophobic contaminants [1], deposition of eggs [3], and colonization by unique bacterial assemblages [4]. Ingestion by indiscriminate deposit-feeders has been reported, yet physical impacts remain understudied [1]. Here, we show that deposit-feeding marine worms maintained in sediments spiked with microscopic unplasticised polyvinylchloride (UPVC) at concentrations overlapping those in the environment had significantly depleted energy reserves by up to 50% (Figure 1). Our results suggest that depleted energy reserves arise from a combination of reduced feeding activity, longer gut residence times of ingested material and inflammation.
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Microplastic uptake had no effect on the marine isopod Idotea emarginata, but it caused weight loss and lower feeding activity in the marine lugworm Arenicola marina.
“Microplastic uptake did not cause any effects on the marine isopod Idotea emarginata(16) but did cause weight loss and a reduced feeding activity for the marine lugworm Arenicola marina.17−19”
From Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates (2018) · cites this paper as [17]
Weight loss of the marine lugworm A. marina was reported at 7.4% PS microplastics and >5% uPVC microplastics in sediment dw.
“while weight loss of the marine lugworm A. marina was reported at concentrations of 7.4% PS microplastics18 and >5% uPVC microplastics in sediment dw.17”
From Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates (2018) · cites this paper as [17]
Only G. pulex showed significant growth reduction, likely explained by size-selective PS uptake and slow excretion leading to energy reserve depletion.
“Only for one of the species, G. pulex, a significant reduction in growth was found, which is likely to be explained by the demonstrated size-selective uptake of PS microplastics and their slow excretion, leading to a depletion of energy reserves as found earlier for marine worms as a result of microplastic ingestion.17”
From Microplastic Effect Thresholds for Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates (2018) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Wright, S. L., Rowe, D., Thompson, R. C., & Galloway, T. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Galloway, Tamara S.
- Venue
- Current Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-12
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- R1031-R1033
- ISSN
- 0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2138083997
- Cited by
- 1,079
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 88 · 2024: 99 · 2023: 128 · 2022: 136 · 2021: 127 · 2020: 121 · 2019: 91 · 2018: 88 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 13
- FWCI
- 25.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Keywords
- microplastic ingestion, energy reserves, plastic pollution, sediment contamination, feeding activity, inflammation, marine invertebrates
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Eating, Energy Metabolism, Environmental Monitoring, Plastics, Polychaeta, Polyvinyl Chloride, Refuse Disposal, Geologic Sediments
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