Kim Lia, Kim Haemi, Song Yubeen, An Youn-Joo
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Oct;219:118357. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118357. Epub 2025 Jun 26.
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as critical contaminants of global concern, yet the size-dependent toxicity of MPs remains underexplored, particularly in aquaculture and food source species. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological, behavioral, histological, and transcriptomic impacts by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs of different size classes: small (PETS; 9.09 μm), medium (PET-M; 49.00 μm), and large (PET-L; 158.59 μm) on Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp), a commercially important species. Shrimp were exposed to MPs for 21 days, and multiple endpoints were assessed, including growth rate, swimming ability, and histological features (hepatopancreas and intestinal ultrastructure). Additionally, transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq revealed key mechanisms involved in oxidative stress, inflammatory activation, metabolic and nutrient transport following PET-MP exposure. The smaller-sized MPs (PET-S and PET-M) caused reductions in growth and motility in Pacific white shrimp, along with pronounced tissue damage. In contrast, the PET-L group exhibited a partial recovery in growth, accompanied by compensatory physiological and molecular responses. These findings indicate the importance of particle size on the severity and effects of MP fragments that smaller MPs pose a greater risk to shrimp health and aquaculture productivity, thereby providing valuable insights for refined ecological risk assessments and ensuring food safety management in aquatic environment. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Microplastic pollution in marine environments poses a direct threat to shrimp, a key food source and ecological species. This study reveals that PET microplastics, especially smaller particles, cause severe physiological and molecular damage to Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), impairing growth, mobility, and organ integrity. Larger particles induced partial adaptive responses, but overall health risks remained. These findings provide urgent evidence that microplastic size critically affects toxicity, highlighting serious implications for ecosystem stability, seafood safety, and human health.
微塑料已成为全球关注的关键污染物，但其大小依赖性毒性仍未得到充分研究，尤其是在水产养殖和作为食物来源的物种方面。本研究旨在评估不同尺寸级别的聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯（PET）微塑料：小尺寸（PET-S；9.09微米）、中尺寸（PET-M；49.00微米）和大尺寸（PET-L；158.59微米）对商业上重要的物种凡纳滨对虾（南美白对虾）的生理、行为、组织学和转录组学影响。将对虾暴露于微塑料中21天，并评估多个终点指标，包括生长速率、游泳能力以及组织学特征（肝胰腺和肠道超微结构）。此外，使用RNA测序进行的转录组分析揭示了PET微塑料暴露后氧化应激、炎症激活、代谢和营养物质运输所涉及的关键机制。较小尺寸的微塑料（PET-S和PET-M）导致南美白对虾生长和运动能力下降，同时伴有明显的组织损伤。相比之下，PET-L组生长出现部分恢复，并伴有代偿性生理和分子反应。这些发现表明颗粒大小对微塑料碎片的严重程度和影响具有重要意义，即较小的微塑料对虾的健康和水产养殖生产力构成更大风险，从而为完善生态风险评估和确保水生环境中的食品安全管理提供了有价值的见解。
海洋环境中的微塑料污染对虾这一关键食物来源和生态物种构成直接威胁。本研究表明，PET微塑料，尤其是较小的颗粒，会对南美白对虾造成严重的生理和分子损伤，损害其生长、运动能力和器官完整性。较大颗粒引发了部分适应性反应，但总体健康风险依然存在。这些发现提供了紧迫的证据，证明微塑料大小对毒性有至关重要的影响，凸显了对生态系统稳定性、海鲜安全和人类健康的严重影响。
