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Polystyrene is widely used in disposable products and is now a ubiquitous plastic pollutant in aquatic environments, where it degrades into smaller particles that leach potentially toxic chemicals. However, knowledge regarding the impacts of plastic leachates remains limited. This study investigates the lethal and nonlethal effects of polystyrene leachate on two ecologically significant aquatic organisms, Daphnia magna (water flea) and Artemia salina (brine shrimp). Polystyrene leachates were prepared in seawater, freshwater, and sterile, pure water by incubating the material in each of the media under natural conditions for six months. D. magna and A. salina were exposed to varying concentrations of the leachates under controlled laboratory conditions, monitoring their survival, as well as measuring reactive oxygen species and antioxidant responses as superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. The data show that A. salina was more significantly affected with higher mortality observed at lower leachate concentrations, potentially linked to seawater enhancing the leaching of toxic additives. Moreover, at non-lethal concentrations, the antioxidative responses maintained homeostasis in both organisms. Considering the current reported microplastic concentrations in the aquatics and the adequate antioxidative response, leachate from plastic potentially does not pose a severe threat to these organisms. Nevertheless, hydrological characteristics of waterbodies may cause microplastic hotspots, which could significantly concentrate plastics and thus their leachates, necessitating action to reduce the current microplastic pollution level and avoid future surges. This study highlights the ecological significance of polystyrene pollution, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive regulatory measures and the development of sustainable alternatives to polystyrene-based products. The distinct responses of D. magna and A. salina imply that the impact of plastic pollution varies among species, necessitating further research to elucidate broader ecological consequences. Understanding how polystyrene leachate affects keystone species provides crucial insights into the overall implications for aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polystyrene is widely used in disposable products and is now a ubiquitous plastic pollutant in aquatic environments, where it degrades into smaller particles that leach potentially toxic chemicals. However, knowledge regarding the impacts of plastic leachates remains limited. This study investigates the lethal and nonlethal effects of polystyrene leachate on two ecologically significant aquatic organisms, Daphnia magna (water flea) and Artemia salina (brine shrimp). Polystyrene leachates were prepared in seawater, freshwater, and sterile, pure water by incubating the material in each of the media under natural conditions for six months. D. magna and A. salina were exposed to varying concentrations of the leachates under controlled laboratory conditions, monitoring their survival, as well as measuring reactive oxygen species and antioxidant responses as superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. The data show that A. salina was more significantly affected with higher mortality observed at lower leachate concentrations, potentially linked to seawater enhancing the leaching of toxic additives. Moreover, at non-lethal concentrations, the antioxidative responses maintained homeostasis in both organisms. Considering the current reported microplastic concentrations in the aquatics and the adequate antioxidative response, leachate from plastic potentially does not pose a severe threat to these organisms. Nevertheless, hydrological characteristics of waterbodies may cause microplastic hotspots, which could significantly concentrate plastics and thus their leachates, necessitating action to reduce the current microplastic pollution level and avoid future surges. This study highlights the ecological significance of polystyrene pollution, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive regulatory measures and the development of sustainable alternatives to polystyrene-based products. The distinct responses of D. magna and A. salina imply that the impact of plastic pollution varies among species, necessitating further research to elucidate broader ecological consequences. Understanding how polystyrene leachate affects keystone species provides crucial insights into the overall implications for aquatic ecosystems.

Abstract Background Each year, approximately 9.5 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean with the potential to adversely impact all trophic levels. Until now, our understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on marine microorganisms has been largely restricted to the microbial assemblages that colonize plastic particles. However, plastic debris also leaches considerable amounts of chemical additives into the water, and this has the potential to impact key groups of planktonic marine microbes, not just those organisms attached to plastic surfaces. Results To investigate this, we explored the population and genetic level responses of a marine microbial community following exposure to leachate from a common plastic (polyvinyl chloride) or zinc, a specific plastic additive. Both the full mix of substances leached from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and zinc alone had profound impacts on the taxonomic and functional diversity of our natural planktonic community. Microbial primary producers, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, which comprise the base of the marine food web, were strongly impaired by exposure to plastic leachates, showing significant declines in photosynthetic efficiency, diversity, and abundance. Key heterotrophic taxa, such as SAR11, which are the most abundant planktonic organisms in the ocean, also exhibited significant declines in relative abundance when exposed to higher levels of PVC leachate. In contrast, many copiotrophic bacteria, including members of the Alteromonadales, dramatically increased in relative abundance under both exposure treatments. Moreover, functional gene and genome analyses, derived from metagenomes, revealed that PVC leachate exposure selects for fast-adapting, motile organisms, along with enrichment in genes usually associated with pathogenicity and an increased capacity to metabolize organic compounds leached from PVC. Conclusions This study shows that substances leached from plastics can restructure marine microbial communities with the potential for significant impacts on trophodynamics and biogeochemical cycling. These findings substantially expand our understanding of the ways by which plastic pollution impact life in our oceans, knowledge which is particularly important given that the burden of plastic pollution in the marine environment is predicted to continue to rise. Video Abstract

Background: Each year, approximately 9.5 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean with the potential to adversely impact all trophic levels. Until now, our understanding of the impact of plastic pollution on marine microorganisms has been largely restricted to the microbial assemblages that colonize plastic particles. However, plastic debris also leaches considerable amounts of chemical additives into the water, and this has the potential to impact key groups of planktonic marine microbes, not just those organisms attached to plastic surfaces. Results: To investigate this, we explored the population and genetic level responses of a marine microbial community following exposure to leachate from a common plastic (polyvinyl chloride) or zinc, a specific plastic additive. Both the full mix of substances leached from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and zinc alone had profound impacts on the taxonomic and functional diversity of our natural planktonic community. Microbial primary producers, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, which comprise the base of the marine food web, were strongly impaired by exposure to plastic leachates, showing significant declines in photosynthetic efficiency, diversity, and abundance. Key heterotrophic taxa, such as SAR11, which are the most abundant planktonic organisms in the ocean, also exhibited significant declines in relative abundance when exposed to higher levels of PVC leachate. In contrast, many copiotrophic bacteria, including members of the Alteromonadales, dramatically increased in relative abundance under both exposure treatments. Moreover, functional gene and genome analyses, derived from metagenomes, revealed that PVC leachate exposure selects for fast-adapting, motile organisms, along with enrichment in genes usually associated with pathogenicity and an increased capacity to metabolize organic compounds leached from PVC. Conclusions: This study shows that substances leached from plastics can restructure marine microbial communities with the potential for significant impacts on trophodynamics and biogeochemical cycling. These findings substantially expand our understanding of the ways by which plastic pollution impact life in our oceans, knowledge which is particularly important given that the burden of plastic pollution in the marine environment is predicted to continue to rise. DubVoHjQQ1D-hWwEoHQrx7 Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an erratum published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. It corrects a production error in an article titled "Ecotoxicological consequences of polystyrene naturally leached in pure, fresh, and saltwater: lethal and nonlethal toxicological responses in Daphnia magna and Artemia salina." The error involved the misspelling of an author's name, which has been corrected to "Young Jun Kim." The publisher apologizes for the mistake, and the original version of the article has been updated. The document also includes information about the open-access status of the article and the copyright terms. [Extracted from the article]

Marine plastic pollution is a well-recognized, global problem. Research addressing plastic pollution has largely focused on investigating impacts on macroorganisms, with few studies investigating effects on marine microbes. We previously showed that marine Prochlorococcus, which are important contributors to oceanic primary production, suffer declines in growth and photosynthetic activity following exposure to leachates from new plastic bags (HDPE) and plastic matting (PVC). However, as such plastics reside in the environment they will be subject to weathering processes, so it is also important to consider how these may alter the composition and amounts of substances available to leach. Here we report on how plastic leachate toxicity is affected by environmental weathering (17- and 112-days in estuarine water) of these common plastic materials. We found that while toxicity was reduced by weathering, materials weathered for up to 112-days continued to leach substances that negatively affected Prochlorococcus growth, photophysiology and membrane integrity. Weathered plastics were found to continue to leach zinc, even after up to 112-days in the environment. The two Prochlorococcus strains tested, NATL2A and MIT9312, showed differences in the sensitivity and timing of their responses, indicating that exposure to leachate from weathered plastics may affect even closely related strains to different degrees. As many marine regions inhabited by Prochlorococcus are likely to be subject to continued accumulation of plastic pollution, our findings highlight the potential for ongoing impacts on these important primary producers.

Cultures of dissociated hippocampal neurons are often used to study neuronal cell biology. We report that the development of these neurons is strongly affected by chemicals leaching from commonly used disposable medical-grade syringes and syringe filters. Contamination of culture medium by bioactive substance(s) from syringes and filters occurred with multiple manufacturing lots and filter types under normal use conditions and resulted in changes to neurite growth, axon formation and the neuronal microtubule cytoskeleton. The effects on neuronal morphology were concentration-dependent and significant effects were detected even after substantial dilution of the contaminated medium. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed many chemicals eluting from the syringes and filters. Three of these chemicals (stearic acid, palmitic acid and 1,2-ethanediol monoacetate) were tested but showed no effects on neurite growth. Similar changes in neuronal morphology were seen with high concentrations of bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate, two hormonally active plasticisers. Although no such compounds were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, unknown plasticisers in leachates may affect neurites. This is the first study to show that leachates from laboratory consumables can alter the growth of cultured hippocampal neurons. We highlight important considerations to ensure leachate contamination does not compromise cell biology experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]