Michelangeli M Elisabetta, Brandsma Sicco H, Margalef Maria, Kuehr Sebastian, Spanu Davide, Gomes Tânia
Norwegian institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0756 Oslo, Norway.
Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Chemistry for Environment & Health, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Oct;219:118298. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118298. Epub 2025 Jun 18.
Rubber pollution is widespread in aquatic environments, where hazardous additives used in manufacturing pose serious risks to aquatic life. Both natural and synthetic rubbers undergo vulcanization, incorporating stabilizers to enhance durability and elasticity, alongside additives like antioxidants, antimicrobials, cross-linking agents and pigments. These substances, not chemically bound to the rubber polymer matrix, can leach into aquatic systems and interact with biota. Thus, this study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of rubber leachates from commercial products, specifically balloons (BAL) and dishwashing gloves (DG), on Mytilus edulis haemocytes. After 24 h of exposure, flow cytometry revealed several toxic effects, including reduced cell viability, metabolic activity, lysosomal content, and neutral lipid levels, as well as DNA alterations indicative of apoptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction was evidenced by altered membrane potential and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, while cytoplasmatic effects included decreased ROS levels and membrane depolarization. Mechanistically, the observed toxicity is likely driven by metabolic and membrane disruption, as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. Chemical analysis tentatively identified several hazardous organic compounds, including cyclic amines, benzothiazoles, and elevated zinc concentrations, known disruptors of cellular homeostasis. This study highlights the sublethal impacts of rubber-derived pollutants on mussel immune cells, providing mechanistic insight into how chemical additives associated with consumer rubber products may pose a threat to the health of marine organisms.
橡胶污染在水生环境中广泛存在，制造过程中使用的有害添加剂对水生生物构成严重风险。天然橡胶和合成橡胶都会进行硫化，加入稳定剂以提高耐用性和弹性，同时还会添加抗氧化剂、抗菌剂、交联剂和色素等添加剂。这些物质没有与橡胶聚合物基体发生化学结合，会渗入水生系统并与生物群相互作用。因此，本研究调查了商业产品（特别是气球（BAL）和洗碗手套（DG））中的橡胶沥滤液对紫贻贝血细胞的生态毒理学影响。暴露24小时后，流式细胞术显示出多种毒性作用，包括细胞活力降低、代谢活性降低、溶酶体含量降低、中性脂质水平降低，以及表明细胞凋亡的DNA改变。线粒体功能障碍表现为膜电位改变和活性氧（ROS）生成减少，而细胞质效应包括ROS水平降低和膜去极化。从机制上讲，观察到的毒性可能是由代谢和膜破坏以及线粒体功能障碍驱动的。化学分析初步鉴定出几种有害有机化合物，包括环状胺、苯并噻唑，以及锌浓度升高，这些都是已知的细胞内稳态破坏剂。本研究强调了橡胶衍生污染物对贻贝免疫细胞的亚致死影响，为与消费橡胶产品相关的化学添加剂如何对海洋生物健康构成威胁提供了机制性见解。
