Journal
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Volume 10, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/jmse10020273
Keywords
microplastic; PS; filter-feeder bivalve; Mytilus trossulus; genotoxicity; comet assay
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Funding
- V.I. Il'ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, FEB RAS [121-21500052-9]
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This study investigated the potential risk of polystyrene microspheres on the genome integrity of filter-feeder mollusk cells, and found that these microspheres caused DNA damage in the cells of the mussel's digestive gland. These findings provide a basis for studying specific biomarkers of microplastic contamination.
Microplastic pollution of the aquatic environment is one of the most serious environmental problems today. The potential environmental risks of such particles have become growing concerns in recent years, as direct or indirect exposure to these particles leads to adverse effects on marine organisms. In this study, we investigated the potential risk of polystyrene (PS) microspheres on the genome integrity of cells of different tissues (gills and digestive gland) of the filter-feeder mollusk Mytilus trossulus, using a comet assay. With the help of the comet assay, we estimated the level of genome destruction in the cells of two different mussel tissues after short-term exposure to polystyrene. It was discovered that, despite their chemical inertness, PS microspheres that are 0.9 mu m in diameter, at a concentration of 10(6) particles/L, exhibit genotoxic properties, which are expressed as a two-fold increase in the level of cell DNA damage of the mussel's digestive gland. It is noted that, after exposure to PS, about half of the mussel's digestive gland cells experienced damage in 25-35% of their DNA. In addition, the proportion of cells with significant DNA damage (50%) was about 5%. Given the unique role of the genome, DNA damage in these cells may be the earliest stage in the development of biochemical events that lead to toxic effects. These findings provide a basis for studying specific biomarkers of microplastic contamination.
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