Can Leachates of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastics in Marine Sediments Affect the Reproduction of an Epibenthic Copepod?

Authors

  • Caio Rodrigues Nobre Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University - UNESP. Praça Infante Dom Henrique s/n. PC 11330-900, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Beatriz Barbosa Moreno Barbosa Moreno Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo. Maria Máximo st. 168, PC 11030-100, Santos, SP, Brazil
  • Aline Vechio Alves Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo. Maria Máximo st. 168, PC 11030-100, Santos, SP, Brazil
  • Denis Moledo de Souza Abessa Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University - UNESP. Praça Infante Dom Henrique s/n. PC 11330-900, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Augusto Cesar Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo. Maria Máximo st. 168, PC 11030-100, Santos, SP, Brazil
  • Rodrigo Brasil Choueri Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo. Maria Máximo st. 168, PC 11030-100, Santos, SP, Brazil.
  • Paloma Kachel Gusso Choueri Department of Ecotoxicology, Santa Cecília University. Oswaldo Cruz st. 266, PC 11045-907, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira Department of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo. Maria Máximo st. 168, PC 11030-100, Santos, SP, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2022.01.10

Abstract

Most studies on the effects of microplastics on marine biota are carried out using unrealistically high concentrations. Moreover, although microplastics are capable of carrying toxic substances and thus can cause adverse effects even without coming into direct contact with organisms, little is known about the effects of not accessible for ingestion microplastics on benthic biota. Considering that the presence of microplastic particles can itself cause effects to the biota due to toxic substances leached, the present study evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of microplastic leachates of virgin and beach stranded in marine sediments (whole sediments and elutriates) on the epibenthic copepod Nitokra sp. (size 3 ± 1 mm). Effects on reproduction were evaluated using clean sediment enriched with environmentally relevant concentrations [1 pellet: 46.67g sediment (Low) and 1 pellet: 1.67g sediment (High)] of two types of plastic pellets (size 4 ± 1 mm) (i) virgin (obtained from the manufacturer) or (ii) stranded (collected from Santos beach, São Paulo, Brazil, a highly urbanized beach). The results of the present study showed that microplastics leachate (virgin or from the environment) did not cause an inhibiting effect on reproduction in Nitokra sp. in any of the scenarios tested. These results contribute to further risk assessments of plastic particles for marine biota.

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Published

12-08-2022

How to Cite

Rodrigues Nobre, C. ., Barbosa Moreno, B. B. M., Vechio Alves, A. ., Moledo de Souza Abessa, D. ., Cesar, A. ., Brasil Choueri, R. ., Kachel Gusso Choueri, P. ., & Dias Seabra Pereira, C. . (2022). Can Leachates of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastics in Marine Sediments Affect the Reproduction of an Epibenthic Copepod? . Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 17(1), 106–113. https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2022.01.10

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