Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>

Plastics pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, owing to their slow biodegradability. Microplastics (MPs), in particular, affect marine life and maricultural organisms and can enter the food chain via ingestion by marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation in predators, including humans....

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Main Authors: Hoon Choi, Un-Ki Hwang, Moonjin Lee, Youn-Jung Kim, Taejun Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/349
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author Hoon Choi
Un-Ki Hwang
Moonjin Lee
Youn-Jung Kim
Taejun Han
author_facet Hoon Choi
Un-Ki Hwang
Moonjin Lee
Youn-Jung Kim
Taejun Han
author_sort Hoon Choi
collection DOAJ
description Plastics pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, owing to their slow biodegradability. Microplastics (MPs), in particular, affect marine life and maricultural organisms and can enter the food chain via ingestion by marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation in predators, including humans. This study assessed the toxic interactions between polystyrene microplastic particles (PSMPs) and cadmium (Cd) and phenanthrene (Phe) using marine bivalves. While PSMPs were non-toxic to Pacific oysters (<i>Crassostrea gigas</i>), the toxicity of Cd and Phe was concentration-dependent. In most conditions, PSMPs reduced the toxicity of Cd and Phe, but in simultaneous exposure, they acted as Cd messengers, altering the toxicity during the adult stage. This study confirms that PSMPs can interact with coastal environmental pollutants, thereby accelerating biotoxicity and posing a significant threat to marine wildlife, mariculture, and human health. It also highlights the need to assess MP toxicity in coastal environments and their interactions with pollutants.
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-8aeea8bbbcf648b4b978ac7cfb2caa8f2025-08-20T02:52:41ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-02-0115534910.3390/nano15050349Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>Hoon Choi0Un-Ki Hwang1Moonjin Lee2Youn-Jung Kim3Taejun Han4Maritime Safety and Environmental Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaTidal Flat Research Institute, Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Busan 46083, Republic of KoreaMaritime Safety and Environmental Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Science, Incheon National University, 119, Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Westenschapspark 1, Bluebridge, 8400 Oostende, BelgiumPlastics pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, owing to their slow biodegradability. Microplastics (MPs), in particular, affect marine life and maricultural organisms and can enter the food chain via ingestion by marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation in predators, including humans. This study assessed the toxic interactions between polystyrene microplastic particles (PSMPs) and cadmium (Cd) and phenanthrene (Phe) using marine bivalves. While PSMPs were non-toxic to Pacific oysters (<i>Crassostrea gigas</i>), the toxicity of Cd and Phe was concentration-dependent. In most conditions, PSMPs reduced the toxicity of Cd and Phe, but in simultaneous exposure, they acted as Cd messengers, altering the toxicity during the adult stage. This study confirms that PSMPs can interact with coastal environmental pollutants, thereby accelerating biotoxicity and posing a significant threat to marine wildlife, mariculture, and human health. It also highlights the need to assess MP toxicity in coastal environments and their interactions with pollutants.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/349polystyrene microplasticmicroplastic toxicityPacific oystertoxic interactioncadmiumphenanthrene
spellingShingle Hoon Choi
Un-Ki Hwang
Moonjin Lee
Youn-Jung Kim
Taejun Han
Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
Nanomaterials
polystyrene microplastic
microplastic toxicity
Pacific oyster
toxic interaction
cadmium
phenanthrene
title Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
title_full Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
title_fullStr Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
title_short Evaluating Toxic Interactions of Polystyrene Microplastics with Hazardous and Noxious Substances Using the Early Life Stages of the Marine Bivalve <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>
title_sort evaluating toxic interactions of polystyrene microplastics with hazardous and noxious substances using the early life stages of the marine bivalve i crassostrea gigas i
topic polystyrene microplastic
microplastic toxicity
Pacific oyster
toxic interaction
cadmium
phenanthrene
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/349
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