Bioaccumulation and metabolism of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in coenobitid hermit crabs from marine litter-polluted beaches in remote islands

Plastic litter containing additives is potentially a major source of chemical contamination in remote areas. We investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and microplastics in crustaceans and sand from beaches with high and low litter volumes on remote islands that were relatively free of other anthropogenic contami-nants. Significant numbers of microplastics in the digestive tracts, and sporadically higher concentrations of rare congeners of PBDEs in the hepatopancreases were observed in coenobitid hermit crabs from the polluted beaches than in those from the control beaches. PBDEs and microplastics were detected in high amounts in one contaminated beach sand sample, but not in other beaches. Using BDE209 exposure experiments, similar debrominated products of BDE209 in field samples were detected in the hermit crabs. The results showed that when hermit crabs ingest microplastics containing BDE209, BDE209 leaches out and migrates to other tissues where it is metabolized.

Automated summary

Plastic litter containing additives is a potential source of chemical contamination in remote areas. The study found significant amounts of microplastics in crustaceans and higher concentrations of rare PBDEs in polluted beaches, indicating contamination from plastic litter. The research also showed that when hermit crabs ingest microplastics, BDE209 migrates to other tissues where it is metabolized.