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Pencik O, Molnarova K, Durdakova M, Kolackova M, Klofac D, Kucsera A, Capal P, Svec P, Bytesnikova Z, Richtera L, Brtnický M, Adam V, Huska D. Not so dangerous? PET microplastics toxicity on freshwater microalgae and cyanobacteria. Environ Pollut 2023; 329:121628. [PMID: 37059171 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae and cyanobacteria are among the most important primary producers and are responsible for the production of 50-80% of the oxygen on Earth. They can be significantly affected by plastic pollution, as the vast majority of plastic waste ends up in rivers and then the oceans. This research focuses on green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris), Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), filamentous cyanobacterium Limnospira (Arthrospira) maxima (L.(A.) maxima) and how they are affected by environmentally relevant PET-MPs (polyethylene-terephtalate microplastics). Manufactured PET-MPs have asymmetric shape, size between 3 and 7 μm and were used in concentrations ranging from 5 mg/L to 80 mg/L. The highest inhibitory rate of growth was found in C. reinhardtii (-24%). Concentration-dependent changes in chlorophyll a composition were found in C. vulgaris and C. reinhardtii, not in L. (A.) maxima. Furthermore, cell damage was detected in all three organisms by CRYO-SEM (shriveling, cell wall disruption), but the cyanobacterium was the least damaged. A PET-fingerprint was detected on the surface of all tested organisms using FTIR, indicating the adherence of PET-MPs. The highest rate of PET-MPs adsorption was detected in L. (A.) maxima. Specifically, characteristic spectra were observed at ∼721, 850, 1100, 1275, 1342, and 1715 cm-1 which are specific for functional groups of PET-MPs. Nitrogen and carbon content significantly increased in L. (A.) maxima under exposure to 80 mg/L due to the PET-MPs adherence and mechanical stress. In all three tested organisms, weak exposure-related ROS generation was detected. In general, cyanobacteria seem to be more resistant to the effects of MPs. However, organisms in the aquatic environment are exposed to MPs over a longer time scale, so it is important to use the present findings for further longer-term experiments on environmentally relevant organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Pencik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarina Molnarova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Durdakova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kolackova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Klofac
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Attilla Kucsera
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Capal
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Slechtitelu 241/27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Svec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Bytesnikova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Richtera
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Brtnický
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Huska
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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