Ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on marine organisms, including species providing a source of food Andy Booth 1, Amy Lusher 2, Chelsea Rochman 3 1 SINTEF Environmental Technology, Norway 2 National University of Galway, Ireland 3 University of Toronto, Canada Materials and Chemistry 1
Microplastic (MP) contamination Wide range of marine species from most trophic levels (pelagic and benthic) Materials and Chemistry 2
Systematic Review MARINE DEBRIS - 83% PLASTIC - 78% MICRO MICRO DEBRIS - 74% microplastic - Only 12% about marine debris (rest is medical, nano and atmospheric debris). Rochman et al., Ecology 2016 Materials and Chemistry 3
Plastic and microplastic Impacts Plastic marine debris ONLY ADAPTED from Rochman et al., Ecology 2016 Materials and Chemistry 4
Evidence of sub-organismal impacts.. Arenicola marina Pomatoschistus microps Daphnia magna Lytechinus variegatus Centropages typicus..but relatively limited studies 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; Materials and Chemistry 5
Impact studies relevant to the (sea)food industry Water Column Ingestion studied in commercial pelagic and demersal fish species Sediment Whiting Indian mackerel European hake Pacific anchovy Thickback sole Boops boops Mussels Oysters Limited studies Mostly shellfish Egestion? 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 Materials and Chemistry 6
Impact studies relevant to the food industry Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Tissue sections showing particles in the intestine Histological changes upon uptake and a strong inflammatory response demonstrated by formation of granulocytomas after 6 h von Moos, et al., Environmental Science & Technology 2012, 46, 11327 Materials and Chemistry 7
Impact studies relevant to the food industry Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) 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 Sussarellu et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113, 2430 Cole & Galloway, Environmental Science & Technology 2015, 49, 14625 Materials and Chemistry 8
Impact studies relevant to the food industry Freshwater fish (Oryzias latipes) Endocrine disruption in adult fish from ingestion of polyethylene: Rochman et al., Science of the Total Environment 2014, 493, 656 Rochman et al., Scientific Reports 2013, 3. 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 marineand virgin-plastic treatment. Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress Materials and Chemistry 9
Hot off the press! European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) Exposure to environmentally relevant concs of polystyrene MPs (90 µm) Inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates Alters innate behaviors of larvae Lönnstedt and Eklöv., Science 2016, 352, 1213 Materials and Chemistry 10
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 11
Joint Programming Initiative: Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans 22 Participating countries (+ Outermost regions) EC non-voting member Microplastics Projects Ministries and Research Funders Materials and Chemistry 12
Thanks for your attention! Amy Lusher Thanks to my partners in plastic Chelsea Rochman Materials and Chemistry 13