Xue Zihan, Xiong Zetao, Wei Zhangdong, Wang Lin, Xu Ming
Miami College, Jinming Campus, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Jinming Campus, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
Toxics. 2024 Mar 29;12(4):254. doi: 10.3390/toxics12040254.
Polyethylene (PE) is a common component of microplastic pollution, and cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent pollutant in contaminated freshwater bodies in China. Among cyanobacteria, () plays a crucial role in the formation of algal blooms in these water systems. However, there has been limited research on how microplastics and heavy metals affect cyanobacteria ecologically. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological effects of individual and combined exposure to Cd pollutants and microplastics on . The solutions containing 13 µm and 6.5 µm PE particles (100 mg/L) with Cd were used in the research. The results indicated that the combined treatment led to a significant inhibition of chlorophyll a content, dropping to zero by day 5. The treated groups exhibited higher microcystins (MCs) content compared to the control group, suggesting increased MCs release due to pollutant exposure. Interestingly, the adsorption of heavy metals by microplastics partially alleviated the toxicity of heavy metals on algal cells. Moreover, the combined treatment significantly suppressed catalase (CAT) activity compared to Cd treatment, indicating a synergistic effect that led to greater oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of PE and Cd pollution on freshwater ecosystems, elucidates the physiological responses of cyanobacteria to these pollutants, and establishes a theoretical groundwork for addressing complex water pollution using cyanobacteria-based strategies.
聚乙烯（PE）是微塑料污染的常见成分，镉（Cd）是中国受污染淡水体中的一种普遍污染物。在蓝藻中，（）在这些水体的藻华形成中起着关键作用。然而，关于微塑料和重金属如何在生态上影响蓝藻的研究有限。本研究旨在评估镉污染物和微塑料单独及联合暴露对（）的生理影响。研究中使用了含有13微米和6.5微米PE颗粒（100毫克/升）以及镉的溶液。结果表明，联合处理导致叶绿素a含量显著抑制，到第5天降至零。与对照组相比，处理组的微囊藻毒素（MCs）含量更高，表明由于污染物暴露导致MCs释放增加。有趣的是，微塑料对重金属的吸附部分减轻了重金属对藻类细胞的毒性。此外，与镉处理相比，联合处理显著抑制了过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性，表明存在协同效应，导致更大的氧化应激。总体而言，本研究为PE和Cd污染对淡水生态系统的影响提供了有价值的见解，阐明了蓝藻对这些污染物的生理反应，并为利用基于蓝藻的策略解决复杂水污染问题奠定了理论基础。
