Differential physiological response of marine and freshwater microalgae to polystyrene microplastics

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 448; p. 130814
• Main Authors: Xu, Hengtao, Li, Li’ang, Wang, Youji, Qiu, Kecheng, Chen, Siyang, Zeng, Jiangning, Liu, Ruijuan, Yang, Qikun, Huang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.04.2023
• Subjects: Antioxidants - pharmacology; Chlorella vulgaris; Fresh Water; Integrated biomarker response; Microalgae; Microplastics; Microplastics - toxicity; Oxidative stress; Photosynthesis; Plastics; Polystyrenes - toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Oxidative stress; Microalgae; Microplastics; Photosynthesis; Integrated biomarker response
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130814

Effects of microplastics on microalgae have not been compared from different habitat. To answer this question, three marine microalgae species (Chlorella marined, Nannochloropsis oculate, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) and two freshwater species (Chlorella vulgaris and Tetradesmus obliquus) were selected and exposed to the environment relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics. The results indicated that microplastics have a significant concentration effect on the growth of microalgae. The attachment of microalgae to microplastics surface and the aggregation of microalgae with each other were observed. Under exposure of microplastics, the photosynthesis of microalgae was inhibited while the antioxidant system was activated, indicating that microplastics had a negative impact on microalgae. At the end of exposure, the oxidative stress status caused by microplastics in marine microalgae were alleviated, but the antioxidant system of freshwater microalgae was still at high levels, indicating a stress response. In addition, integrated biomarker response (IBR) indicated that the effects of microplastics on freshwater microalgae were severer than marine microalgae, which might relate to their differences in removing reactive oxygen species (ROS) effectively and membrane structure. Our study provides a reliable data for understanding the complex effects of microplastics on microalgae, and especially for comparing the differential effects of microplastics among different microalgae. [Display omitted] •The physiological change between marine and freshwater microalgae exposed to microplastics was investigated.•The negative effects of microplastics on the health of microalgae was concentration dependent.•The agglomeration with each other and adhesion to microplastics of microalgae were observed.•IBR was used to comprehensively compared to the different effect of microplastics on microalgae.•Marine microalgae showed higher resistance to microplastics compared to freshwater microalgae.