Single and combined toxicity of amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles with potassium dichromate and copper sulfate on brine shrimp Artemia franciscana larvae

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021-09, Vol.28 (33), p.45317-45334
• Main Authors: Machado, Antonio Júdson Targino, Mataribu, Bianca, Serrão, Catarina, da Silva Silvestre, Leanderson, Farias, Davi Felipe, Bergami, Elisa, Corsi, Ilaria, Marques-Santos, Luis Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Agitation; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic Pollution; Artemia; Artemia franciscana; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biota; Brines; Contaminants; Copper; Copper sulfate; Developmental stages; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Exposure; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Heavy metals; Immobilization; Larvae; Marine environment; Nanoparticles; Plastic pollution; Polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; Potassium; Potassium dichromate; Research Article; Shellfish; Sulfates; Toxicants; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13907-5

The increasing use and disposal of plastics has become a persistent problem in the marine environment, calling for studies that refer to realistic scenarios to understand their effects on biota. Particularly, the understanding about the effects of co-exposure with nanoplastic particles and metals on aquatic organisms is still limited. The present work aimed to investigate the acute toxicity of amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NH 2 ; 50 nm) as proxy for nanoplastics on brine shrimp Artemia franciscana larvae under different culture conditions and at different stages of development, as well as the combined effect with two reference toxicants — potassium dichromate (K 2 Cr 2 O 7 ) and copper sulfate (CuSO 4 ). Nauplii (instar II or III larval stages) were exposed to different concentrations of PS-NH 2 (0.005 to 5 μg mL -1 ) for up to 48 h, with or without agitation in order to mimic a more realistic environmental scenario. Larval mobility and PS-NH 2 accumulation were monitored under microscopy. PS-NH 2 alone showed toxicity only at the highest concentration tested (5 μg mL -1 ) regardless the incubation method used (61.2 + 3.1% and 65.0 + 4.5% with and without agitation, respectively). Moreover, instar III stage was the most sensitive to PS-NH 2 exposure (38.2% immobility in 24 h of exposure; 5 μg mL -1 ). Evidence of PS-NH 2 retention in the gastrointestinal tract in a concentration- and time-dependent manner was also obtained. Mixtures of PS-NH 2 (0.005 and 5 μg mL -1 ) with different concentrations of K 2 Cr 2 O 7 increased the immobilization rate of the larvae after 48 h of exposure, when compared to the K 2 Cr 2 O 7 alone. Similar results were observed for CuSO 4 in the co-exposure conditions at different concentrations. However, exposing nauplii to a mixture of PS-NH 2 (0.005 μg mL -1 ) and CuSO 4 decreased immobilization rate, in comparison to the group exposed to CuSO 4 alone. The present work highlights the potential risk posed by nanoplastics to zooplanktonic species through their interaction with other toxicants.