Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics to daphnia magna : current status, knowledge gaps and future directions

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Language of the publication
English
Date
2023-10
Type
Accepted manuscript
Author(s)
  • Roubeau Dumont, Eva
  • Chen, Qiqing
  • Macairan, Jun-Ray
  • Robinson, Stacey A.
  • Berk, Dimitrios
  • Tufenkji, Nathalie
Publisher
Elsevier

Alternative title

Toxicité des microplastiques et nanoplastiques pour Daphnia magna : état actuel, lacunes dans les connaissances et orientations futures

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review of 124 published articles that investigated the toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics to Daphnia magna. This review summarizes studies assessing acute, chronic, and multigenerational impacts, as well as the effects observed via leached chemicals from plastics and the role of plastics as contaminant vectors. Overall, observed toxicity varies across different polymer types, and shapes. One of the most visible findings is that targeted research synthesis of the acute toxicity tests found more toxicity in smaller-sized particles. Most studies use spherical plastics that are commercially available, especially polystyrene, while the use of irregular-shaped and/or secondary plastics is still emerging. Also, there are still various confounding factors that make the comparison of the observed results difficult. Future studies should focus on irregular-shaped particles, and other polymer types, besides polystyrene. More research efforts are needed to understand the impacts of environmental factors and complex matrices.

Plain language summary

Researchers reviewed 124 scientific studies to understand how tiny plastic particles—microplastics and nanoplastics—affect Daphnia magna, a small freshwater organism often used to test pollution. The studies looked at short term, long term, and even multigenerational effects, as well as impacts from chemicals that plastics can release or carry. Toxicity varied depending on the plastic’s type and shape, but smaller particles were consistently more harmful. Most studies used perfectly round polystyrene beads, even though real environmental plastics are usually irregular. The review highlights the need for more research using varied plastic types, real world particle shapes, and more realistic environmental conditions.

Subject

  • Crustaceans,
  • Toxic substances,
  • Plastics industry

Rights

Pagination

80 pages, annexes

Peer review

Yes

Open access level

Green

Identifiers

ISSN
1879-3142
0165-9936

Article

Journal title
TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Journal volume
167
Article number
117208
Accepted date
2023-07-23
Submitted date
2023-04-14

URI

Collection(s)

Biodiversity

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