Behaviors and biochemical responses of macroinvertebrate Corbicula fluminea to polystyrene microplastics

Microplastic, a well-documented emerging contaminant, is widespread in aquatic environments resulting from the production and fragmentation of large plastics items. The knowledge about the chronic toxic effects and behavioral toxicity of microplastics, particularly on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates, is limited. In this study, adult Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) were exposed to gradient microplastic solutions for 42 days to evaluate behavioral toxicity and chronic biotoxicity. The results showed that microplastics caused behavior toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in high-concentration treatments. Siphoning, breathing, and excretion was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) at high-concentration treatments, suggesting that high-concentration microplastics induced behavioral toxicity in C. fluminea. Malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) and the acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) throughout the exposure period in high-concentration treatments. Enzymes associated with energy supply were significantly higher at high-concentration microplastics treatments on D7 and D21. However, they recovered to a normal level on D42. The instability of the enzymes indicated that high-concentration microplastics induced oxidative stress and disorder in neurotransmission and energy supply. The gills of C. fluminea in treatments underwent cilia degeneration, which indicated that microplastics caused tissue damage in the gills. The analysis of integrated biomarker response values revealed that high-concentration microplastics led to long-term effects on the health of C. fluminea. In conclusion, continuous exposure to microplastics (10 mg L-1) would damage physical behavior and the antioxidant system of C. fluminea.

Automated summary

The study showed that high-concentration microplastics induced behavioral toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in Asian clams. Enzymes associated with energy supply were significantly enhanced at high-concentration treatments but recovered to a normal level after exposure. Overall, continuous exposure to microplastics (10 mg L-1) led to long-term effects on the health of Asian clams.