Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the main plastic polymers contaminating natural ecosystems. Although PET microplastics (PET-MPs) have been found in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the information concerning their potential toxicity towards terrestrial organisms is limited. The present study aimed at investigating the ingestion and the possible adverse effects induced by a 40-days exposure to irregular shaped PET-MPs toward the giant snail Achatina reticulata. Giant snails were exposed via the diet to two concentrations (1% and 10% w/w; i.e., g of PET-MPs/g of the administered food) of PET-MPs and their capability to ingest and egest PET-MPs was assessed together with an evaluation of their potential effects at biochemical and individual levels. Oxidative stress-related biomarkers (i.e., the amount of reactive oxygen species, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation) and DNA fragmentation were measured in the digestive gland isolated from snails as biochemical endpoints. Changes in growth trajectories, in terms of body weight and shell size, were considered as morphometric endpoints. Our results demonstrated that A. reticulata can efficiently ingest and egest PET-MPs. Whilst giant snails did not experience an oxidative stress condition, significant changes in their growth trajectories were observed, with PET-MPs-treated snails grew more and more quickly than the control group. Our results suggest that PET-MPs might represent a risk during early-life stages for terrestrial organisms.

Dietary exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) induces faster growth but not oxidative stress in the giant snail Achatina reticulata / B. De Felice, R. Ambrosini, R. Bacchetta, M.A. Ortenzi, M. Parolini. - In: CHEMOSPHERE. - ISSN 0045-6535. - 270(2021 May).

Dietary exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) induces faster growth but not oxidative stress in the giant snail Achatina reticulata

B. De Felice
Primo
;
R. Ambrosini
Secondo
;
R. Bacchetta;M.A. Ortenzi
Penultimo
;
M. Parolini
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the main plastic polymers contaminating natural ecosystems. Although PET microplastics (PET-MPs) have been found in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the information concerning their potential toxicity towards terrestrial organisms is limited. The present study aimed at investigating the ingestion and the possible adverse effects induced by a 40-days exposure to irregular shaped PET-MPs toward the giant snail Achatina reticulata. Giant snails were exposed via the diet to two concentrations (1% and 10% w/w; i.e., g of PET-MPs/g of the administered food) of PET-MPs and their capability to ingest and egest PET-MPs was assessed together with an evaluation of their potential effects at biochemical and individual levels. Oxidative stress-related biomarkers (i.e., the amount of reactive oxygen species, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation) and DNA fragmentation were measured in the digestive gland isolated from snails as biochemical endpoints. Changes in growth trajectories, in terms of body weight and shell size, were considered as morphometric endpoints. Our results demonstrated that A. reticulata can efficiently ingest and egest PET-MPs. Whilst giant snails did not experience an oxidative stress condition, significant changes in their growth trajectories were observed, with PET-MPs-treated snails grew more and more quickly than the control group. Our results suggest that PET-MPs might represent a risk during early-life stages for terrestrial organisms.
Microplastics: Morphometry; Oxidative stress; Polyethylene terephthalate (PET); Terrestrial organism;
Settore BIO/07 - Ecologia
mag-2021
26-dic-2020
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/806622
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