Cited by 51Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyEchinoderm biology and ecology

Effects of Human Activity on Markers of Oxidative Stress in the Intestine of Holothuria tubulosa, with Special Reference to the Presence of Microplastics

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Lombardo, Jessica, Solomando, Antònia, Cohen-Sánchez, Amanda, Pinya, Samuel, Tejada, Silvia, Ferriol, Pere, Mateu-Vicens, Guillem, Box, Antonio +2 more·2022·International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Abstract

Pollution in the seas and oceans is a global problem, which highlights emerging pollutants and plastics, specifically microplastics (MPs), which are tiny (1 μm to 5 mm) ubiquitous plastic particles present in marine environments that can be ingested by a wide range of organisms. Holothurians are benthic organisms that feed on sediment; therefore, they can be exposed to contaminants present in the particles they ingest. The objective was to evaluate the effects of human activity on Holothuria tubulosa through the study of biomarkers. Specimens were collected in three different areas throughout the island of Eivissa, Spain: (1) a highly urbanized area, with tourist uses and a marina; (2) an urbanized area close to the mouth of a torrent; (3) an area devoid of human activity and considered clean. The results showed a higher presence of microplastics (MPs) in the sediments from the highly urbanized area in relation to the other two areas studied. Similarly, a higher number of MPs were observed in the digestive tract of H. tubulosa from the most affected area, decreasing with the degree of anthropic influence. Both in the sediment and in the holothurians, fibers predominated with more than 75% of the items. In the three areas, mesoplastics were analyzed by means of FTIR, showing that the main polymer was polypropylene (27%) followed by low-density polyethylene (17%) and polystyrene (16%). Regarding the biomarkers of oxidative stress, the intestine of H. tubulosa from the most impacted areas showed higher catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GRd), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels compared to the control area. The intermediate area only presented significant differences in GRd and GST with respect to the clean area. The activities of acetylcholinesterase and the levels and malondialdehyde presented similar values in all areas. In conclusion, human activity evaluated with the presence of MPs induced an antioxidant response in H. tubulosa, although without evidence of oxidative damage or neurotoxicity. H. tubulosa, due to its benthic animal characteristics and easy handling, can be a useful species for monitoring purposes.

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  • In Holoturia tubulosa, the intestine from the most polluted areas showed higher CAT, SOD, glutathione reductase, and GST activities and reduced glutathione levels than those from the control area; a positive correlation between MPs in the intestine and CAT, GST, and GSH was found.

    “It was observed that the intestine of H. tubulosa from the most polluted areas showed higher CAT, SOD, glutathione reductase (GRd), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels than those from the control area. A positive correlation between the presence of MPs in the intestine and CAT, GST, and GSH was found.”

    From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [49]

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Authors
Lombardo, J., Solomando, A., Cohen-Sánchez, A., Pinya, S., Tejada, S., Ferriol, P., Mateu-Vicens, G., Box, A., Faggio, C., & Sureda, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Messina (IT)
  • Universitat de les Illes Balears (ES)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
  • Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  • Department of Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Caça i Cooperació Municipal, Consell Insular d’Eivissa, 07800 Eivissa, Spain
Corresponding author
  • Faggio, Caterina
  • Sureda, Antoni
Venue
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-08-12
Volume
23
Issue
16
Pages
9018
ISSN
1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4291465460
Cited by
51
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 3
FWCI
2.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Echinoderm biology and ecology
Keywords
Holothuria tubulosa, sea cucumbers, microplastics, oxidative stress biomarkers, anthropogenic impacts, marine plastic pollution, sediment contamination, antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, acetylcholinesterase, malondialdehyde, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, biomonitoring, Ibiza
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Acetylcholinesterase, Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Glutathione Reductase, Humans, Human Activities, Intestines, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Biomarkers, Oxidative Stress, Holothuria

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