Document of bibliographic reference 364900
BibliographicReference record
- Type
- Bibliographic resource
- Type of document
- Journal article
- BibLvlCode
- AS
- Title
- Influence of microplastic-associated biofilms on the bioavailability of a mixture of cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene by the analysis of biomarker gene expression in larval zebrafish
- Abstract
- Microplastics (MPs, 1 µm – 5 mm) in aquatic environments undergo complex weathering transformations such as those induced by microbial colonization and biofilm formation, that affect their ability to interact with environmental contaminants (co-contaminants). In this study, the microbial composition of MP biofilms and its influence on the sorption and bioavailability of two co-contaminants with different physicochemistry, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cadmium (Cd) in a mixture, were assessed. Aqueous-phase bioavailability was measured by assessment of biomarker gene expression for these toxicants (cytochrome P450 1A, cyp1a, and metallothionein 2, mt2, for B[a]P and Cd respectively) in larval zebrafish, Danio rerio. Significant induction of cyp1a and mt2 gene expression (p < 0.05) was observed after exposure to the mixture of Cd, B[a]P and MPs compared to joint exposure with individual contaminants and MPs. Significant changes in bioavailability for mt2 biomarker (p < 0.001) resulted after exposure to a Cd and B[a]P mixture with MPs compared to the same exposure without MPs. Biofilms significantly reduced bioavailability of B[a]P (cyp1a gene expression (p < 0.01)) but not Cd (mt2 gene expression) in the mixture with Cd and B[a]P (HDPE + BF + B[a]P + Cd) compared to the same treatment without biofilm (HDPE + B[a]P + Cd). Thus, compared to Cd, the biofilm could provide additional interactions with B[a]P, and new specific active sites on the MPs surface, that reduced B[a]P bioavailability. Additionally, the biofilm microbial community included hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria able to metabolize hydrophobic chemicals. These data indicated that in a mixture of co-contaminants, the biofilm selectively influenced their bioavailability and that the microbial composition of MPs biofilm may have played a key role in reducing B[a]P bioavailability. The results of this study highlight how in a complex exposure scenario characterized by a mixture of different co-contaminants, the polymer and chemical properties and micro-surroundings of the organisms may affect contaminants' bioavailability and/or exposure.
- WebOfScience code
- https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001007457900001
- Bibliographic citation
- Di Natale, M.; Catarino, A.I.; Summers, S.; Boyle, D.; Torri, M.; Nicosia, A.; Musco, M.; Masullo, T.; Russo, S.; Bennici, C.D.; Mazzola, A.; Cuttitta, A.; Henry, T.B. (2023). Influence of microplastic-associated biofilms on the bioavailability of a mixture of cadmium and benzo[a]pyrene by the analysis of biomarker gene expression in larval zebrafish. Ecol. Indic. 152: 110369. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110369
- Topic
- Marine
- Is peer reviewed
- true
- Access rights
- open access
- Is accessible for free
- true
Authors
- author
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- Name
- Marilena Di Natale
- author
-
- Name
- Ana Isabel Catarino
- Identifier
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0869
- Affiliation
- Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee
- author
-
- Name
- Stephen Summers
- author
-
- Name
- David Boyle
- author
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- Name
- Marco Torri
- author
-
- Name
- Aldo Nicosia
- author
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- Name
- Marianna Musco
- author
-
- Name
- Tiziana Masullo
- author
-
- Name
- Stefania Russo
- author
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- Name
- Carmelo Daniele Bennici
- author
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- Name
- Antonio Mazzola
- author
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- Name
- Angela Cuttitta
- author
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- Name
- Theodore Henry
taxonomic terms
- taxonomic terms associated with this publication
- Danio rerio