Comparative effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on the brittle star Ophiactis virens and the amphibian Xenopus laevis

作者：Renato Bacchetta, Arianna Pica, Nadia Santo, Paolo Tremolada, Michela Sugni · 发表于：Aquatic Toxicology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106975 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications、Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry

In this study, we investigated the effects of PVC microplastics (PVC-MPs) using two different animal models: the brittle star Ophiactis virens, and the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. This is the first study using an environmental relevant sample of PVC-MPs obtained through mechanical fragmentation of a common PVC plumbing pipe. Exposure experiments on brittle star were performed on the adult stage for a duration of 14 days, while those on African clawed frog were performed on the embryogenic developmental stage according to the standardized FETAX protocol (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus). For both models, different endpoints were analysed: mortality, developmental parameters, behavioural assays and histological analyses on target organs by optical and electronic microscopy. Results showed that the concentration of 0.1 μg mL−1 PVC do not cause any adverse effects in both models (common NOEC concentration), while exposure to 1 μg mL−1 PVC adversely affected at least one species (common LOEC concentration). In particular arm regeneration efficiency was the most affected parameters in O. virens leading to a significantly lower differentiation pattern at 1 μg mL−1 PVC. On the contrary, in X. laevis larvae histopathological analyses and behavioural tests were the most susceptible endpoints, exhibiting several abnormal figures and different swimming speed at 10 μg mL−1 PVC. Histopathological analyses revealed a higher abundance of degenerating cells, pyknotic nuclei an...