Ecotoxicoproteomic assessment of microplastics and plastic additives in aquatic organisms: A review

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics Vol. 36; p. 100713
• Main Authors: Liu, Wang, Zhao, Yaqian, Shi, Ziyue, Li, Zhitong, Liang, Xuefang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Ecotoxicoproteomics; Microplastics; Molecular mechanism; Multi-omics; Plastic additives; Microplastics; Ecotoxicoproteomics; Plastic additives; Molecular mechanism; Multi-omics
• ISSN: 1744-117X; 1878-0407
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100713

Advances in proteomics have greatly improved chemical toxicity assessment and predictions of adverse outcomes in organisms. Ecotoxicoproteomics has been employed to elucidate biological pathways affected by chemicals and provide data that can be incorporated into adverse outcome pathways (AOP) to better define the ecological risk of emerging pollutants. Microplastics (MPs) and plastic additives have raised global concern due to their widespread use in aquatic environments, bioaccumulation in tissues, and toxic effects in aquatic organisms. Despite showing sublethal toxicity in many cases, mechanisms underlying these emerging pollutants are underexplored. In this review, adverse effects and recent ecotoxicoproteomic studies of MPs and typical additives (i.e. plasticizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, and UV stabilizers) in aquatic organisms are summarized. Proteomics data show that MPs adversely affect ingestion and reproduction via disrupting pathways related to energy metabolism, stress-related defense, and cytoskeletal dynamics. Biological processes including lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, skeletal development, neurotransmitter signaling, and immune response are modulated by additives and induce developmental malformations in fish embryos/larvae. Furthermore, plastic additives also exert reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity in invertebrates (e.g. mussel, abalone, and oyster) and fish by disrupting detoxification/oxidative stress, hormonal modulation, signal transduction, and apoptosis. Additional studies are needed to complement the omic knowledge of chemical additives that are not well documented (e.g. UV stabilizers) for improving understanding into toxic mechanisms and for characterizing ecological risk linked to plastic contaminants. [Display omitted] •Recent ecotoxicoproteomic applications in MPs and plastic additives were reviewed.•Biological effects of MPs and plastic additives in aquatic organisms were reviewed.•MPs disrupt energy metabolism, stress-related defense, and cytoskeletal dynamics.•Plastic additives affect detoxification, hormonal modulation, and apoptosis.