Acute sensitivity of three Cladoceran species to different types of microplastics in combination with thermal stress. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaikumar, Gayathri; Baas, Jan; Brun, Nadja R.; Vijver, Martina G.; Bosker, Thijs
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 239(2018)
• Page Start: 733
• Page End: 740
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Daphnia spp -- Ceriodaphnia dubia -- Primary and secondary microplastics -- Temperature stress -- TK-TD modelling; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.069
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics (<5 mm, MP) are ubiquitously distributed in the environment, causing increasing concern regarding their potential toxicity to organisms. To date, most research has focussed on the impacts of MPs on marine and estuarine organisms, with fewer studies focussing on the effects of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems, especially under different environmental conditions. In the present study, the sensitivity of two temperate Cladoceran species, Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulex, and a smaller tropical species Ceriodaphnia dubia, to primary microplastics (PMP) and secondary (weathered) microplastics (SMP) was assessed. A prolonged acute toxicity assay (up to 72 or 96 h) was performed at 18°, 22°, and 26 °C, to determine the influence of temperature as an additional stressor and survival data were analysed using toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) model. Acute sensitivity of D. magna and D. pulex to both PMP and SMP increased sharply with temperature, whereas that of C. dubia remained relatively stable across temperatures. C. dubia was the most sensitive species at 18 °C, followed by D. pulex and D. magna, which were of comparable sensitivity. However, this ranking was reversed at 26 °C as could be seen from the No Effect Concentration (NEC) estimates of the TK-TD model. In addition, SMP and PMP had a similar effect on D. magna and D. pulex, but PMP was more toxic to C. dubia . Effects on survival were strongly time-dependent and became substantially more severe after the standard 48 h test period. Our results indicate that sensitivity to microplastics may differ between species for different types of microplastics, and could be drastically influenced by temperature albeit at high exposure concentrations. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Cladoceran sensitivity to two microplastics (MP) was compared at three temperatures. Temperature affected toxicity for D. magna and D. pulex, but less so for C. dubia . Primary and secondary MP elicited similar effects on D. magna and D. pulex . C. dubia was more sensitive to primary MP as compared to secondary MP. Exposure to MPs caused adverse effects; albeit at very high concentrations. Abstract : There is a difference in sensitivity among three Cladoceran species when exposed to two types of microplastic (primary or artificially weathered) at different exposure temperatures.