Washington, Emily A., Paley, Allison S., Gulizia, Alexandra M., Motti, Cherie A., Vamvounis, George, and Hoogenboom, Mia O. (2024) Bisphenol A leachate from polystyrene microplastics has species-specific impacts on scleractinian corals. Science of the Total Environment, 957. 177604.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Plastic waste causes pervasive environmental contamination and can result in the release of harmful chemical leachates into marine ecosystems, especially as they fragment to smaller microplastics (<5 mm). The toxicity of commonly found polystyrene (PS) microplastics and associated bisphenol A (BPA) leachate to framework-building corals Pocillopora damicornis and Dipsastraea pallida was assessed through exposure experiments. Intermittent exposure over 14-days to 1) virgin PS, 2) preformulated PS with bound BPA (BPA-PS) and 3) leached BPA-PS (L-BPA-PS; simulating early stages of weathering) showed that microplastics void of leachable BPA had minimal effect on either coral species. However, BPA leachate had negative effects on the maximal photochemical yield (Fv/Fm) and tissue composition of P. damicornis fragments (e.g., decreased chlorophyll and protein compared to controls). Conversely, BPA leachate did not compromise tissues of D. pallida fragments. These results reveal that exposure to chemicals leaching out of microplastics can drive negative effects of microplastic exposure distinct from physical mechanisms due to ingestion alone, and that effects are species specific.

Item ID:	84860
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1879-1026
Copyright Information:	© 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2025 01:08
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 70% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4105 Pollution and contamination > 410599 Pollution and contamination not elsewhere classified @ 30%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 70% 24 MANUFACTURING > 2409 Industrial chemicals and related products > 240910 Plastics @ 30%
	More Statistics