Cited by 70Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Toxic Effects of Pristine and Aged Polystyrene and Their Leachate on Marine Microalgae Skeletonema Costatum

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Ni, Ziqi, Tan, Liju, Wang, Jiayin, Chen, Yanshan, Zhang, Na, Meng, Fanmeng, Wang, Jiangtao·2023·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

The acute toxic effects of pristine and aged polystyrene (P-PS and A-PS) and their leaching solutions (L-PS) on microalgae Skeletonema costatum were investigated by measuring algal density and growth inhibition rate (IR), chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) over 96 h. Total protein (TP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to analyze the oxidative damage to microalgae by microplastics and their leachates. Hydrodynamic diameter of microplastics in seawater, FITR and SEM images were used to study the changes of polystyrene during aging. The interaction of algae cell with microplastics and the cellular ultrastructure changes of cells were analyzed combined with electron microscopy for a comprehensive and systematic understanding on the mechanisms of microplastic toxicity to microalgae. Both high concentration and small size of PS had significant inhibitory effect on the growth of microalgae, and the inhibitory effect was greater with increasing exposure time. The inhibition effect of aged microplastics was more obvious, which was speculated to be caused by the synergistic effect of aged PS itself and leaching solution. The negative effect of leaching solution on microalgae was due to the release of some additives during the aging process. The content of MDA reached the highest value of 54.41 nmol/mgprot in 1.0 μm 50 mg/L A-PS treatment group, and A-PS were found to be more prone to heterogeneous aggregation with algae cells by SEM.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159614

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Authors
Ni, Z., Tan, L., Wang, J., Chen, Y., Zhang, N., Meng, F., & Wang, J.
Affiliations
Ocean University of China (CN)
Corresponding author
Wang, Jiangtao
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-01
Volume
857
Issue
Pt 3
Pages
159614
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4307656499
Cited by
70
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 13
FWCI
3.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Key Technologies Research and Development Program (2019YFC1407802)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (41876078)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2018MD016)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
polystyrene microplastics, microplastic aging, leachate, Skeletonema costatum, microalgae toxicity, growth inhibition, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic efficiency, microplastic aggregation, marine microalgae
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Plastics, Polystyrenes, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Diatoms, Microalgae

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