Emerging: Environmental Mixtures of Emerging contaminants Repercussions on Gonads and Impact on Next Generations

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Polystyrene nanoplastics in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Publication . Gonçalves, Joanna M.; Benedetti, M.; d’Errico, G.; Regoli, F.; Bebianno, Maria J.

Concerns about plastic pollution and its toxicity towards animals and people are growing. Polystyrene (PS) is a plastic polymer highly produced in Europe for packaging purposes and building insulation amongst others. Whatever their source—illegal dumping, improper waste management, or a lack of treatment for the removal of plastic debris from wastewater treatment plants—PS products ultimately end up in the marine environment. Nanoplastics (<1000 nm) are the new focus for plastic pollution, gaining broad interest. Whether primary or secondary, their small size permits nanoparticles to cross cellular boundaries, consequently leading to adverse toxic effects. An in vitro assay of Mytilus galloprovincialis haemocytes exposed to 10 μg/L of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs; 50 nm) for 24 h was used to test cellular viability along with the luminescence inhibition (LC50) of Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria to evaluate acute toxicity. Cellular viability of mussel haemocytes decreased significantly after a 24 h exposure and PS-NPs LC50 range from 180 to 217, μg/L. In addition, a 28-day exposure of the marine bivalve M. galloprovincialis to PS-NPs (10 μg/L; 50 nm) was performed to evaluate the neurotoxic effects and the uptake of these plastic particles in three bivalve tissues (gills, digestive gland, and gonads). The ingestion of PS-NPs was time- and tissue-specific, suggesting that PS-NPs are ingested through the gills and then translocated through the mussel bloodstream, to the digestive gland and gonads where the highest amount of ingested PS-NPs was reported. Ingested PS-NPs may compromise the digestive glands’ key metabolic function and impair mussels’ gametogenic and reproductive success. Data on acetylcholinesterase inhibition and those previously obtained on a wide range of cellular biomarkers were elaborated through weighted criteria providing a synthetic assessment of cellular hazard from PS-NPs.

2023Journal article

Embargoed access

Ecotoxicity of emerging contaminants in the reproductive organ of marine mussels mytilus galloprovincialis

Publication . Gonçalves, Joanna M.; Bebianno, M.

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) present a new threat to the marine environment, and it is vital to under-stand the interactions and possible toxicity of CEC mixtures once they reach the ocean. CECs-such as metal nanopar-ticles, nanoplastics, and pharmaceuticals-are groups of contaminants some of which have been individually evaluated, though their interactions as mixtures are still not fully understood. To ensure a healthy and prosperous fu-ture generation, successful reproduction is key: however, if hindered, population dynamics may be at danger leading to a negative impact on biodiversity. This study aimed to understand the effects of silver (20 nm nAg, 10 mu g/L), polysty-rene nanoparticles (50 nm nPS, 10 mu g/L), and 5-fluorouracil (5FU, 10 ng/L) individually and as a mixture (10 mu g/L of nPS + 10 mu g/L of nAg +10 ng/L of 5FU) in the gonads of Mytilus galloprovincialis. A multibiomarker approach, namely the antioxidant defence system (ADS; superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione - S - trans-ferases activities), and oxidative damage (OD; lipid peroxidation) were analysed in the gonads of mussels. All exposure treatments after 3 days led to an increase of enzymatic activity, followed by an inhibition after 14 and 21 days. Thus, ADS was overwhelmed due to the generation of ROS, resulting in OD, except for nPS exposed mussels. The OD in Mix exposed mussels increased exponentially by 57-fold. When CEC mixtures interact, they are potentially more hazardous than their individual components, posing a major threat to marine species. To understand synergistic and antagonistic interactions, a model was applied, and antagonistic interactions were observed in evaluated biomarkers at all time-points, apart from a synergistic interaction at day 3 relative to LPO. Results indicate that the effects observed in Mix-exposed mussel gonads are mainly due to the interaction of nAg and 5FU but not nPS.

2023Journal article

Open access

Are mixtures of micro/nanoplastics more toxic than individual micro or nanoplastic contamination in the clam ruditapes decussatus?

Publication . Ventura, Emma; Ribeiro Gonçalves, Joanna Melissa; Vilke, Juliano Marcelo; d'Errico, Giuseppe; Benedetti, Maura; Regoli, Francesco; Bebianno, Maria

The abundance of micro (MPs) and nano (NPs) sized plastic particles in the ocean is concerning due to their harmful effects on marine life. The interactions between MPs and NPs in the marine environment and their impact on marine biota remain not fully understood. This study contributes with new insights into the interaction between polystyrene NPs (PSNPs) and polyethylene MPs (PEMPs) on the clam Ruditapes decussatus . Results showed ingestion of MPs and NPs by clams, with PSNPs demonstrating higher toxicity in hemolymph. While no genotoxicity was observed, clams treated with MPs and the mixture showed increased acetylcolinesterase (AchE) activity over time. Additionally, the antioxidant defense system mitigated oxidative stress, suggesting effective neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Hazard assessment indicated the greatest impact on clam digestive glands after ten days of exposure, with an antagonistic interaction between MPs and NPs noted.

2024-09Journal article

Restricted access

Gender effects of nanoplastics and emerging contaminants mixtures in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Publication . Ribeiro Gonçalves, Joanna Melissa; Benedetti, M.; d'Errico, G.; Regoli, F.; Bebianno, Maria

The reproduction of mussels occurs within the water column, and if gametogenesis is successful, gametes are exposed to the surrounding contaminants. Nanoplastics and other emerging contaminants have been gaining vast attention; however, their effects on the reproductive tissues of mussels with sex differentiation are scarce. Here, the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles (50 nm; 10 mu g/L), the cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil (10 ng/L), and a mixture of the two were evaluated in the gonads of Mytilus galloprovincialis after a 21-day exposure for a multibiomarker assessment, and after 28 days for the accumulation of nanoplastics. The effects on the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Moreover, synergistic and antagonistic interactions in the mixture were calculated. A weight of evidence model was also used to elaborate on the hazardous level of biomarker results relative to polystyrene nanoparticles alone and in the mixture. The accumulation of nanoplastics appeared gender and time-specific, with females mostly compromised. According to the data set, a synergistic interaction between the cytotoxic drug and the nano- plastics makes the combination far more dangerous than individual stressors. The Weight Of Evidence model also confirms that females are more compromised at chronic exposure times than males. This study shows that the uptake, fate, and impact of emerging contaminants of concern can be significantly influenced by sex.

2025-02Journal article

Restricted access