Materials and Chemistry 1

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 2

Microplastic (MP) contamination

Wide range of marine species from most trophic levels (pelagic and benthic)

Materials and Chemistry

Systematic Review

3

Rochman et al., Ecology 2016

MARINE DEBRIS - 83% PLASTIC - 78% MICRO

MICRO DEBRIS - 74% microplastic - Only 12% about marine debris (rest is medical, nano and atmospheric debris).

Materials and Chemistry

Plastic and microplastic Impacts

4

ADAPTED from Rochman et al., Ecology 2016

Plastic marine debris ONLY

Materials and Chemistry

Evidence of sub-organismal impacts……..

5

……..but relatively limited studies

Daphnia magna

Lytechinus variegatus

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;

Pomatoschistus microps Arenicola marina

Centropages typicus

Materials and Chemistry

Impact studies relevant to the (sea)food industry

6

Limited studies Mostly shellfish

Water Column

Sediment

Oysters Mussels

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

Ingestion studied in commercial pelagic and demersal fish species

Whiting Indian mackerel

Pacific anchovy Thickback sole Boops boops

European hake

Egestion?

Materials and Chemistry

Impact studies relevant to the food industry

7

Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis)

von Moos, et al., Environmental Science & Technology 2012, 46, 11327

Tissue sections showing particles in the intestine

Histological changes upon uptake and a strong inflammatory response demonstrated

by formation of granulocytomas after 6 h

Materials and Chemistry 8

Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Sussarellu et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113, 2430 Cole & Galloway, Environmental Science & Technology 2015, 49, 14625

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

Impact studies relevant to the food industry

Materials and Chemistry 9

Freshwater fish (Oryzias latipes)

Rochman et al., Science of the Total Environment 2014, 493, 656 Rochman et al., Scientific Reports 2013, 3.

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 marine- and virgin-plastic treatment.

Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress

Impact studies relevant to the food industry

Materials and Chemistry

Hot off the press!

10

European Perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Lönnstedt and Eklöv., Science 2016, 352, 1213

Exposure to environmentally relevant concs of polystyrene MPs (90 µm) • Inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates • Alters innate behaviors of larvae

Materials and Chemistry 11

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 12

Joint Programming Initiative: Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans

Microplastics Projects

22 Participating countries (+ Outermost regions) EC non-voting member

Ministries and

Research Funders

Materials and Chemistry 13

Thanks for your attention!

Thanks to my partners in plastic

Amy Lusher

Chelsea Rochman