Ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on marine
organisms, including species providing a source of food
Andy Booth1, Amy Lusher2, Chelsea Rochman3
1SINTEF
Environmental Technology, Norway
2National University of Galway, Ireland
3University of Toronto, Canada
Materials and Chemistry
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Microplastic (MP) contamination
Wide range of marine species from most
trophic levels (pelagic and benthic)
Materials and Chemistry
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Systematic Review
MARINE DEBRIS
MICRO DEBRIS
- 83% PLASTIC
- 78% MICRO
- 74% microplastic
- Only 12% about marine debris
(rest is medical, nano and atmospheric debris).
Rochman et al., Ecology 2016
Materials and Chemistry
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Plastic and microplastic Impacts
Plastic marine debris ONLY
ADAPTED from Rochman et al., Ecology 2016
Materials and Chemistry
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Evidence of sub-organismal impacts……..
Arenicola marina
Pomatoschistus microps
Lytechinus variegatus
Daphnia magna
Centropages typicus
……..but relatively limited studies
Nobre et al., Mar Poll Bull 2015; Booth, et al., Env Tox Chem 2015; Oliveira et al., Ecol Ind 2013;
Besseling et al., Env Sci Tech 2013; Cole et al., Env Sci Tech 2013;
Materials and Chemistry
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Impact studies relevant to the (sea)food industry
Water Column
Ingestion studied in commercial pelagic and
demersal fish species
Whiting
Indian mackerel European hake
Sediment
Pacific anchovy Thickback sole Boops boops
Mussels
Oysters
Limited studies
Mostly shellfish
Egestion?
Lusher et al., ICES 2015; Lusher et al., Mar Poll Bull 2013;
Rochman et al., Sci Rep 2015; Neves et al., Mar Poll Bull 2015
Materials and Chemistry
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Impact studies relevant to the food industry
Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Tissue sections showing
particles in the intestine
Histological changes upon uptake and a
strong inflammatory response demonstrated
by formation of granulocytomas after 6 h
von Moos, et al., Environmental Science & Technology 2012, 46, 11327
Materials and Chemistry
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Impact studies relevant to the food industry
Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)
Reproduction is affected by exposure
to polystyrene microplastics:
• Egg production
• Sperm mobility
• Larval yield
No measurable effects on development
or feeding capacity of the larvae
Sussarellu et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113, 2430
Cole & Galloway, Environmental Science & Technology 2015, 49, 14625
Materials and Chemistry
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Impact studies relevant to the food industry
Freshwater fish (Oryzias latipes)
Endocrine disruption in adult fish
from ingestion of polyethylene:
• Altered gene expression was
observed in male fish exposed
to the marine-plastic
treatment.
• Altered gene expression was
observed in female fish
exposed to both the marineand virgin-plastic treatment.
Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress
Rochman et al., Science of the Total Environment 2014, 493, 656
Rochman et al., Scientific Reports 2013, 3.
Materials and Chemistry
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Hot off the press!
European Perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Exposure to environmentally relevant concs of polystyrene MPs (90 µm)
• Inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates
• Alters innate behaviors of larvae
Lönnstedt and Eklöv., Science 2016, 352, 1213
Materials and Chemistry
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Knowledge gaps concerning effects from MPs
 Potential effects of MPs on aquatic species at different life
stages (including food species)
 Evidence for MP impacts to populations, communities and
ecosystems
 MP uptake, internalisation (e.g. across the gut wall) and
potential for trophic transfer
 Role of MPs as vectors for exposure and bioaccumulation
of sorbed persistent organic pollutants and metals
 Role of associated additive chemicals on the potential
effects of MPs to aquatic species
 Specific modes of toxic action for MPs and their
relationship to those of 'conventional' marine pollutants
Materials and Chemistry
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Joint Programming Initiative:
Healthy and Productive Seas
and Oceans
22 Participating countries
(+ Outermost regions)
EC non-voting member
Microplastics Projects
Ministries and
Research Funders
Materials and Chemistry
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Thanks for your attention!
Amy Lusher
Thanks to my
partners in plastic
Chelsea Rochman
Materials and Chemistry
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