Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate-based glitters (PET glitters) are a potential source of primary microplastics in the environment. However, the bioeffects of PET glitters and the associated leachates remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the individual and combined toxicity of five colors (silver, black, red, green, and blue) of PET glitters and their corresponding leachates on the cellular responses of Desmodesmus sp. The results indicated that the photosynthesis of Desmodesmus sp. could be partly affected by PET glitters through the shading effect, but not that of growth. Conversely, the leachates of red and green PET glitters significantly inhibited the growth of the microalga, suggesting a higher risk associated with additives leached from these colors of PET glitters. Furthermore, the adverse effects of the co-occurrence of PET glitters and leachates were closely related to oxidative stress responses in the microalgal cells, along with a color effect, which could be mainly attributed to variations in the composition and abundance of toxic additives in different colors of PET glitters. Overall, our findings provide insights into the ecological risks posed by glitters in aquatic environments and emphasize the importance of considering color factors in assessing microplastics toxicity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data will be made available on request.
References
Abinandan S, Subashchandrabose SR, Venkateswarlu K, Megharaj M (2020) Sustainable iron recovery and biodiesel yield by acid-adapted microalgae, Desmodesmus sp. MAS1 and Heterochlorella sp. MAS3, grown in synthetic acid mine drainage. ACS Omega 5(12):6888–6894. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c00255
Ahmad P, Jaleel CA, Salem MA, Nabi G, Sharma S (2010) Roles of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in plants during abiotic stress. Crit Rev Biotechnol 30:161–175. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388550903524243
Bhattacharya P, Lin SJ, Turner JP, Ke PC (2010) Physical adsorption of charged plastic nanoparticles affects algal photosynthesis. J Phys Chem C 114:16556–16561. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp1054759
Braglia R, Rugnini L, Malizia S, Scuderi F, Redi EL, Canini A, Bruno L (2021) Exploiting the potential in water cleanup from metals and nutrients of Desmodesmus sp. and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus. Plants 10(7):1461. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071461
Capolupo M, Sorensen L, Jayasena KD, Booth AM, Fabbri E (2020) Chemical composition and ecotoxicity of plastic and car tire rubber leachates to aquatic organisms. Water Res 169:115270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115270
Chae Y, Kim D, An YJ (2019) Effects of micro-sized polyethylene spheres on the marine microalga Dunaliella salina: Focusing on the algal cell to plastic particle size ratio. Aquat Toxicol 216:105296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105296
Do ATN, Ha Y, Kwon J-H (2022) Leaching of microplastic-associated additives in aquatic environments: A critical review. Environ Pollut 305:119258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119258
Du S, Meng F, Duan W, Liu Q, Li H, Peng X (2022) Oxidative stress responses in two marine diatoms during acute n-butyl acrylate exposure and the toxicological evaluation with the IBRv2 index. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 240:113686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113686
Fu C, Li Z, Jia C, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Yi C, Xie S (2021) Recent advances on bio-based isobutanol separation. Energy Convers Manag:X 10:100059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2020.100059
Gallego I, Narwani A (2022) Ecology and evolution of competitive trait variation in natural phytoplankton communities under selection. Ecol Lett 25:2397–2409. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14103
GandaraeSilva PP, Nobre CR, Resaffe P, Resaffe P, Gusmao F (2016) Leachate from microplastics impairs larval development in brown mussels. Water Res 106:364–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.10.016
Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL (2017) Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci Adv 3:e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Green DS, Jefferson M, Boots B, Stone L (2021) All that glitters is litter? Ecological impacts of conventional versus biodegradable glitter in a freshwater habitat. J Hazard Mater 402:124070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124070
Guo YH, Ma W, Li JJ, Liu W, Qi PZ, Ye YY, Guo BY, Zhang JS, Qu CK (2020) Effects of microplastics on growth, phenanthrene stress, and lipid accumulation in a diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Environ Pollut 257:113628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113628
Hurley R, Woodward J, Rothwell JJ (2018) Microplastic contamination of river beds significantly reduced by catchment-wide flooding. Nat Geosci 11:215. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0080-1
Johnson JL, Fawley MW, Fawley KP (2007) The diversity of Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus (Chlorophyceae) in Itasca State Park, Minnesota, USA. Phycologia 46:214–229. https://doi.org/10.2216/05-69.1
Kimbrough DE, Cohen Y, Winer AM, Creelman L, Mabuni C (1999) A critical assessment of chromium in the environment. Crit Rev Env Sci Technol 29:1–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389991259164
Kokilathasan N, Dittrich M (2022) Nanoplastics: Detection and impacts in aquatic environments-A review. Sci Total Environ 849:157852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157852
Lagarde F, Olivier O, Zanella M, Daniel P, Hiard S, Caruso A (2016) Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type. Environ Pollut 215:331–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.006
Laskar N, Kumar U (2019) Plastics and microplastics: A threat to environment. Environ Technol Innov 14:100352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2019.100352
Li L, Gu H, Chang X, Huang W, Sokolova IM, Wei S, Sun L, Li S, Wang X, Hu M, Zeng J, Wang Y (2021) Oxidative stress induced by nanoplastics in the liver of juvenile large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea. Mar Pollut Bull 170:112661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112661
Li S, Wang P, Zhang C, Zhou X, Yin Z, Hu T, Hu D, Liu C, Zhu L (2020) Influence of polystyrene microplastics on the growth, photosynthetic efficiency and aggregation of freshwater microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Sci Total Environ 714:136767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136767
Liu G, Jiang R, You J, Muir DCG, Zeng EY (2020) Microplastic impacts on microalgae growth: Effects of size and humic acid. Environ Sci Technol 54:1782–1789. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b06187
Luo H, Li Y, Zhao Y, Xiang Y, He D, Pan X (2020) Effects of accelerated aging on characteristics, leaching, and toxicity of commercial lead chromate pigmented microplastics. Environ Pollut 257:113475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113475
Markou G, Vandamme D, Muylaert K (2014) Microalgal and cyanobacterial cultivation: The supply of nutrients. Water Res 65:186–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2014.07.025
Moore CJ (2008) Synthetic polymers in the marine environment: A rapidly increasing, long-term threat. Environ Res 108:131–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2008.07.025
Nanda S, Patra BR, Patel R, Bakos J, Dalai AK (2022) Innovations in applications and prospects of bioplastics and biopolymers: A review. Environ Chem Lett 20:379–395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01334-4
Nava V, Leoni B (2021) A critical review of interactions between microplastics, microalgae and aquatic ecosystem function. Water Res 188:116476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116476
OECD (2011) OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals, section 2. Test No. 201: freshwater alga and cyanobacteria, growth inhibition test. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264069923-en
Okamoto K, Nomura M, Horie Y, Okamura H (2022) Color preferences and gastrointestinal-tract retention times of microplastics by freshwater and marine fishes. Environ Pollut 304:119253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119253
Oliviero M, Tato T, Schiavo S, Fernandez V, Manzo S, Beiras R (2019) Leachates of micronized plastic toys provoke embryotoxic effects upon sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Environ Pollut 247:706–715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.098
Ozkaleli M, Erdem A (2018) Biotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles on Raphidocelis subcapitata microalgae exemplified by membrane deformation. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:416. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030416
Parsai T, Figueiredo N, Dalvi V, Martins M, Malik A, Kumar A (2022) Implication of microplastic toxicity on functioning of microalgae in aquatic system. Environ Pollut 308:119626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119626
Perosa M, Guerranti C, Renzi M, Bevilacqua S (2021) Taking the sparkle off the sparkling time. Mar Pollut Bull 170:112660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112660
Sanchez W, Burgeot T, Porcher JM (2013) A novel “Integrated Biomarker Response” calculation based on reference deviation concept. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:2721–2725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1359-1
Sathish MN, Jeyasanta I, Patterson J (2020) Occurrence of microplastics in epipelagic and mesopelagic fishes from Tuticorin, Southeast coast of India. Sci Total Environ 720:137614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137614
Shin H, Sukumaran V, Yeo IC, Shim KY, Lee S, Choi HK, Ha SY, Kim M, Jung JH, Lee JS, Jeong CB (2022) Phenotypic toxicity, oxidative response, and transcriptomic deregulation of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis exposed to a toxic cocktail of tire-wear particle leachate. J Hazard Mater 438:129417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129417
Solovchenko AE, Vasilieva SG, Zaitsev P, Lukyanov AA, Antal TK, Skripnikova EV (2022) Approaches to rapid screening of pharmaceutical xenobiotic effects on microalgae via monitoring of photosynthetic apparatus condition. J Appl Phycol 34:353–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02660-4
Song CF, Liu ZZ, Wang CL, Li SH, Kitamura Y (2020) Different interaction performance between microplastics and microalgae: The bio-elimination potential of Chlorella sp. L38 and Phaeodactylum tricornutum MASCC-0025 Sci. Total Environ. 723:138146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138146
Sonnendecker C, Oeser J, Richter PK, Hille P, Zhao Z, Fischer C, Lippold H, Blazquez-Sanchez P, Engelberger F, Ramirez-Sarmiento CA, Oeser T, Lihanova Y, Frank R, Jahnke HG, Billig S, Abel B, Strater N, Matysik J, Zimmermann W (2022) Low carbon footprint recycling of post-consumer PET plastic with a metagenomic polyester hydrolase. Chem Sus Chem 15:e202101062. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202101062
Thompson RC, Olsen Y, Mitchell RP, Davis A, Rowland S, John AWG, McGonigle D, Russell AE (2004) Lost at Sea: Where is all the plastic? Science 304:838–838. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559
Wang C, Jiang L, Huang W, Wang C, He M (2022) Light availability modulates the responses of the microalgae Desmodesmus sp. to micron-sized polyvinyl chloride microplastics. Aquat. Toxicol. 249:106234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106234
Wang ZM, Wagner J, Ghosal S, Bedi G, Wall S (2017) SEM/EDS and optical microscopy analyses of microplastics in ocean trawl and fish guts. Sci Total Environ 603:616–626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.047
Yokota K, Waterfield H, Hastings C, Davidson E, Kwietniewski E, Wells B (2017) Finding the missing piece of the aquatic plastic pollution puzzle: Interaction between primary producers and microplastics. Limnol Oceanogr Lett 2:91–104. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10040
Yurtsever M (2019) Tiny, shiny, and colorful microplastics: Are regular glitters a significant source of microplastics? Mar Pollut Bull 146:678–682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.009
Zhang C, Chen X, Wang J, Tan L (2017) Toxic effects of microplastic on marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum: Interactions between microplastic and algae. Environ Pollut 220:1282–1288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.11.005
Zhang J, Huang D, Deng H, Zhang J (2022) Responses of submerged plant Vallisneria natans growth and leaf biofilms to water contaminated with microplastics. Sci Total Environ 818:151750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151750
Zhang J, Kong L, Zhao Y, Lin Q, Huang S, Jin Y, Ma Z, Guan W (2022) Antagonistic and synergistic effects of warming and microplastics on microalgae: Case study of the red tide species Prorocentrum donghaiense. Environ Pollut 307:119515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119515
Zhao T, Tan LJ, Huang WQ, Wang JT (2019) The interactions between micropolyvinyl chloride (mPVC) and marine dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi: The inhibition of growth, chlorophyll and photosynthetic efficiency. Environ Pollut 247:883–889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.114
Zhou L, Liu F, Liu Q, Fortin C, Tan Y, Huang L, Campbell PGC (2021) Aluminum increases net carbon fixation by marine diatoms and decreases their decomposition: Evidence for the iron-aluminumhypothesis. Limnol Oceanogr 66:2712–2727. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11784
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32171625 and No. 42076138).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Chun Wang: Investigation, Writing-Original Draft.
Lijuan Jiang: Investigation.
Yaru Zhang: Investigation.
Changhai Wang: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Writing-Review & Editing.
Meilin He: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing-Review & Editing.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
This work does not involve any hazards, such as the use of animal or human subjects.
Consent to participate
All of the authors of the paper have participated in certain substantive aspects of this study, and they are acknowledged or listed as contributors.
Consent for publication
All the authors have approved the manuscript for publication.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Diane Purchase
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, C., Jiang, L., Zhang, Y. et al. Stealth microplastics pollutants: Toxicological evaluation of polyethylene terephthalate-based glitters on the microalga Desmodesmus sp. and its color effect. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 95975–95987 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29147-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29147-8