International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Mar Environ Res. 2024 Sep;200:106645. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106645. Epub 2024 Jul 15.
Due to continuous increase in marine plastic waste, microplastics are ubiquitous in the marine environment. However, there are few studies on the harmful effects caused by microplastics with different particle sizes, and the interaction between particle size and concentration requires further investigation. This study explored the differences in physiological and biochemical responses, photosynthesis and oxidative stress damage of the microalga Isochrysis galbana exposed to three different particle size microplastics. It was found that different particle sizes and concentrations of microplastics resulted in significant differences (p < 0.05) in the growth rate, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress level of I. galbana. With the decrease of the particle size and lowering concentration of microplastics, the growth rate, photosynthesis and oxidative stress levels of I. galbana were reduced. Significant differences in photosynthesis and oxidative stress levels were observed when I. galbana was exposed to smallest particle size and lowest concentration of microplastics. This study provides new insights about whether polystyrene microplastics of different particle sizes and concentrations exhibit complex effects on microalgae, and explores the underlying reasons for such effects. In short, this study predicts the exacerbating adverse effects of microplastic pollution on the primary productivity, with significant implications for marine food webs and ecosystem health.
由于海洋塑料废物的不断增加，微塑料在海洋环境中无处不在。然而，对于不同粒径的微塑料所造成的有害影响的研究较少，并且粒径和浓度之间的相互作用需要进一步研究。本研究探讨了三种不同粒径的微塑料对小球藻（Isochrysis galbana）生理生化反应、光合作用和氧化应激损伤的差异。结果表明，不同粒径和浓度的微塑料对小球藻的生长率、光合作用和氧化应激水平有显著影响（p < 0.05）。随着微塑料粒径的减小和浓度的降低，小球藻的生长率、光合作用和氧化应激水平降低。当小球藻暴露于最小粒径和最低浓度的微塑料时，其光合作用和氧化应激水平有显著差异。本研究提供了新的见解，即不同粒径和浓度的聚苯乙烯微塑料是否对微藻表现出复杂的影响，并探讨了这种影响的潜在原因。总之，本研究预测了微塑料污染对初级生产力的加剧不利影响，对海洋食物网和生态系统健康具有重要意义。
