Biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polylactic acid microplastics in Tenebrio molitor larvae: Physiological responses

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 345; p. 118818
• Main Authors: Peng, Bo-Yu, Sun, Ying, Li, Ping, Yu, Siran, Xu, Yazhou, Chen, Jiabin, Zhou, Xuefei, Wu, Wei-Min, Zhang, Yalei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Microplastics; Oxidative stress; Physiological responses; Polymer degradability; Tenebrio molitor; Oxidative stress; Microplastics; Tenebrio molitor; Physiological responses; Polymer degradability
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118818

It is widely understood that microplastics (MPs) can induce various biological stresses in macroinvertebrates that are incapable of biodegrading plastics. However, the biodegradation and physiological responses of plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates toward MPs of different degradability levels remain unexplored. In this study, Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) were selected as a model of plastics-degrading macroinvertebrate, and were tested against three common plastics of different degradability rankings: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs (size <300 μm). These three MPs were biodegraded with the rate sequence of PLA > PS > PVC, resulting in a reversed order of negative physiological responses (body weight loss, decreased survival, and biomass depletion) of mealworms. Simultaneously, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation were uniformly increased as polymer degradability decreased and intermediate toxicity increased. PVC MPs exhibited higher toxicity than the other two polymers. The oxidative stresses were effectively alleviated by supplementing co-diet bran. The T. molitor larvae fed with PLA plus bran showed sustainable growth without an increase in oxidative stress. The results provide new insights into the biotoxicity of MPs on macroinvertebrates and offer comprehensive information on the physiological stress responses of plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates during the biodegradation of plastics with different degradability levels. [Display omitted] •Microplastics (MPs) degradation rate by mealworms with sequence of PLA > PS > PVC.•Physiological responses were dependent on polymer degradability and intermediate toxicity.•Supplementing nutrient-rich co-diets alleviated oxidative stress by MPs.•Nanoplastics were not detected in frass after microplastics biodegradation.