Nanopolystyrene at predicted environmental concentration enhances microcystin-LR toxicity by inducing intestinal damage in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 Nov 15:183:109568. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109568. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

We employed nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to determine the combinational effect between nanopolystyrene at predicted environmental concentration and microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Prolonged exposure to nanopolystyrene (1 μg/L) increased MC-LR (0.1 μg/L) toxicity in reducing brood size and locomotion behavior and in inducing oxidative stress. Moreover, the adsorption of MC-LR by nanopolystyrene particles played an important role in inducing the enhancement in MC-LR toxicity by nanopolystyrene particles. Additionally, only exposure to resuspension of nanopolystyrene (1 μg/L) caused the increased intestinal permeability in MC-LR (0.1 μg/L) exposed nematodes. Our data indicates the potential of nanopolystyrene at predicted environmental concentration in enhancing MC-LR toxicity on environmental organisms.

Keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; Microcystin-LR; Nanopolystyrene particles; Predicted environmental concentration; Toxicity enhancement.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / drug effects*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestines / drug effects*
  • Locomotion / drug effects
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins / metabolism
  • Microcystins / toxicity*
  • Nanostructures / toxicity*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Permeability
  • Polystyrenes / toxicity*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • Polystyrenes
  • cyanoginosin LR