A dosage-effect assessment of acute toxicology tests of microplastic exposure in filter-feeding fish

Abundant microplastics was found in aquatic ecosystem and aquatic organisms, which raised many concerns in public. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), a species filter-feeding planktivorous fish, feed on particle between 4 and 85 mu m in size, and the respiratory process works together with feeding mechanism when filtering plankton from water. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological response of silver carp exposed to 5 mu m polystyrene microspheres during 48 h of exposure followed by 48 h of depuration through the gill histology, and oxidative stress biomarkers in intestine. The results revealed that microplastics can pass through the whole digestive tract of silver carp and be excreted by feces. Low microplastic concentration (80 mu g/L) induced oxidative stress and up-regulation of TUB84 and HSP70 gene in intestine, and silver carp have ability to recover after the exposure to microplastic was removed. High microplastic concentration (800 mu g/L) definitely cause significant damage to gills and intestines, in this situation, far beyond the possibility of fish own repair, and even when the threaten removed, silver carp can't recovery soon. Our studies assessed the dosage-effect relationship with physiological stress on silver carp when exposure to microplastics.

Automated summary

Silver carp exposed to microplastics showed oxidative stress and up-regulation of genes at low concentration, with ability to recover, while high concentration caused significant damage beyond self-repair, even after the threat was removed.