Differentiation in the expression of toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on two freshwater fish species: Size matters

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2022-07, Vol.830, p.154603-154603, Article 154603
• Main Authors: Bobori, Dimitra C., Dimitriadi, Anastasia, Feidantsis, Konstantinos, Samiotaki, Athina, Fafouti, Danai, Sampsonidis, Ioannis, Kalogiannis, Stavros, Kastrinaki, Georgia, Lambropoulou, Dimitra A., Kyzas, George Z., Koumoundouros, George, Bikiaris, Dimitrios N., Kaloyianni, Martha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Fresh Water; FTIR spectra; Metabolomics; Microplastics - toxicity; Oxidative stress biomarkers; Perches; Plastics - metabolism; Polyethylene - metabolism; Polyethylene - toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Zebrafish - metabolism
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154603

The built up of microplastic (MPs) remains is shaping a new aquatic habitat and imposes the necessity for research of the effects that these relatively new pollutants exert on organisms, environment, and human health. The purpose of the present study was to verify if there is a particle-size dependence of fish response to MPs. Thus, we exposed two freshwater fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) for 21 days to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) sized 10–45 μm and 106–125 μm. Thereafter, in the liver and gills tissues, biochemical and molecular parameters and the metabolic profile were examined. Ex-vivo characterization by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy exhibited increased concentration of 10–45 μm PE-MPs in the liver of the two fish species while 106–125 μm PE-MPs mostly concentrated in fish gills. The penetration of PE-MPs to fish and the induced oxidative stress triggered changes in lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and ubiquitination and furthermore stimulated signal transduction pathways leading to autophagy and apoptosis. The smaller PE-MPs were more potent in inducing alterations to all the latter parameters measured than the larger ones. Tissue response in both fish seems to depend on the parameter measured and does not seem to follow a specific pattern. Our results showed that there is no clear sensitivity of one fish species versus the other, against both sizes of PE-MPs they were exposed. In perch the metabolic changes in gills were distinct to the ones observed in liver, following a size dependent pattern, indicating that stress conditions are generated through different mechanisms. All the parameters employed can be suggested further as biomarkers in biomonitoring studies against PE-MPs. [Display omitted] •Small sized PS-MPs are more potent toxics than large ones in zebrafish and perch.•Small PE-MPs induced more intense oxidative stress and apoptosis in liver and gills.•Larger PE-MPs tended to accumulate more in gills.•Metabolite changes by both MPs sizes indicated tissue dependent toxicity mechanism.•The biomarkers used are suitable for the detection of oxidative stress.