Materials and Chemistry 1
Ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on marine organisms, including species providing a source of food
Andy Booth1, Amy Lusher2, Chelsea Rochman3 1SINTEF Environmental Technology, Norway 2National University of Galway, Ireland 3University of Toronto, Canada
Materials and Chemistry 2
Microplastic (MP) contamination
Wide range of marine species from most trophic levels (pelagic and benthic)
Materials and Chemistry
Systematic Review
3
Rochman et al., Ecology 2016
MARINE DEBRIS - 83% PLASTIC - 78% MICRO
MICRO DEBRIS - 74% microplastic - Only 12% about marine debris (rest is medical, nano and atmospheric debris).
Materials and Chemistry
Plastic and microplastic Impacts
4
ADAPTED from Rochman et al., Ecology 2016
Plastic marine debris ONLY
Materials and Chemistry
Evidence of sub-organismal impacts……..
5
……..but relatively limited studies
Daphnia magna
Lytechinus variegatus
Nobre et al., Mar Poll Bull 2015; Booth, et al., Env Tox Chem 2015; Oliveira et al., Ecol Ind 2013; Besseling et al., Env Sci Tech 2013; Cole et al., Env Sci Tech 2013;
Pomatoschistus microps Arenicola marina
Centropages typicus
Materials and Chemistry
Impact studies relevant to the (sea)food industry
6
Limited studies Mostly shellfish
Water Column
Sediment
Oysters Mussels
Lusher et al., ICES 2015; Lusher et al., Mar Poll Bull 2013; Rochman et al., Sci Rep 2015; Neves et al., Mar Poll Bull 2015
Ingestion studied in commercial pelagic and demersal fish species
Whiting Indian mackerel
Pacific anchovy Thickback sole Boops boops
European hake
Egestion?
Materials and Chemistry
Impact studies relevant to the food industry
7
Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis)
von Moos, et al., Environmental Science & Technology 2012, 46, 11327
Tissue sections showing particles in the intestine
Histological changes upon uptake and a strong inflammatory response demonstrated
by formation of granulocytomas after 6 h
Materials and Chemistry 8
Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)
Sussarellu et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113, 2430 Cole & Galloway, Environmental Science & Technology 2015, 49, 14625
Reproduction is affected by exposure to polystyrene microplastics: • Egg production • Sperm mobility • Larval yield
No measurable effects on development or feeding capacity of the larvae
Impact studies relevant to the food industry
Materials and Chemistry 9
Freshwater fish (Oryzias latipes)
Rochman et al., Science of the Total Environment 2014, 493, 656 Rochman et al., Scientific Reports 2013, 3.
Endocrine disruption in adult fish from ingestion of polyethylene: • Altered gene expression was
observed in male fish exposed to the marine-plastic treatment.
• Altered gene expression was observed in female fish exposed to both the marine- and virgin-plastic treatment.
Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress
Impact studies relevant to the food industry
Materials and Chemistry
Hot off the press!
10
European Perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Lönnstedt and Eklöv., Science 2016, 352, 1213
Exposure to environmentally relevant concs of polystyrene MPs (90 µm) • Inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates • Alters innate behaviors of larvae
Materials and Chemistry 11
Knowledge gaps concerning effects from MPs
Potential effects of MPs on aquatic species at different life stages (including food species)
Evidence for MP impacts to populations, communities and ecosystems
MP uptake, internalisation (e.g. across the gut wall) and potential for trophic transfer
Role of MPs as vectors for exposure and bioaccumulation of sorbed persistent organic pollutants and metals
Role of associated additive chemicals on the potential effects of MPs to aquatic species
Specific modes of toxic action for MPs and their relationship to those of 'conventional' marine pollutants
Materials and Chemistry 12
Joint Programming Initiative: Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans
Microplastics Projects
22 Participating countries (+ Outermost regions) EC non-voting member
Ministries and
Research Funders
Materials and Chemistry 13
Thanks for your attention!
Thanks to my partners in plastic
Amy Lusher
Chelsea Rochman
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