Impact of Microplastic Beads and Fibers on Waterflea (Ceriodaphnia dubia) Survival, Growth, and Reproduction: Implications of Single and Mixture Exposures

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03574
• Publication Date: 2017-10-24T01:36:42Z
• Authors: Shima Ziajahromi; Anupama Kumar; Peta A. Neale; Frederic D. L. Le...
• Keywords: Ceriodaphnia dubia

There is limited knowledge regarding the adverse effects of wastewater-derived microplastics, particularly fibers, on aquatic biota. In this study, we examined acute (48 h) and chronic (8 d) microplastic polyester fibers polyethylene (PE) beads freshwater zooplankton Ceriodaphnia dubia. We also assessed response C. dubia to a binary mixture for first time. Acute exposure PE both showed dose-dependent effect survival. An equitoxic resulted in toxic unit 1.85 indicating less than additive effects. Chronic lower concentrations did not significantly affect survival dubia, but growth reproduction was observed. Fibers greater beads. While ingestion observed, scanning electron microscopy carapace antenna deformities after with no observed much current research has focused beads, our study shows that pose risk reduced reproductive output at within an order magnitude reported environmental levels.