The interfacial interaction between Dechlorane Plus (DP) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs): An overlooked influence factor for the algal toxicity of PSNPs

Qi Wang; Weitao Liu; Lingzuo Meng; Aurang Zeb; Fan Mo; Jianling Wang; Ruiying Shi

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167129

The interfacial interaction between Dechlorane Plus (DP) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs): An overlooked influence factor for the algal toxicity of PSNPs

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 20:905:167129. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167129. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Authors

Qi Wang¹, Weitao Liu², Lingzuo Meng³, Aurang Zeb¹, Fan Mo¹, Jianling Wang¹, Ruiying Shi¹

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
² MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: lwt@nankai.edu.cn.
³ College of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China.

PMID: 37730039
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167129

Abstract

As pollution has attracted attention due to its wide distribution. An environmental concern that may be overlooked is that NPs additives are easily released into the environment due to their physical combination with NPs. However, the knowledge gaps still exist about the interfacial reactions of NPs and the additives (e.g. flame retardants) and the joint ecological effect. In the present study, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer coupled with 2D correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis revealed the interfacial reactions between polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and Dechlorane Plus (DP). Results showed that carbon‑oxygen bonds and carbon‑chlorine bonds were the important binding sites during adhesion and DP could reduce the colloidal stability. Single and joint ecological effects of PSNPs and DP on the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris were further deliberated. Reduced photosynthetic efficiency (reduced F_v/F_m by 0.03 %), higher growth inhibition (16.15 %) and oxidative damage (increased ROS by 152 %) were observed in algae under co-exposure. Notably, DP could significantly increase the attachment of PSNPs to the surface of the algae. Metabolomics further revealed that co-exposure significantly down-regulated amino acid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle, and up-regulated fatty acid metabolism. The present study provides new insights into the risk assessment of NPs in aquatic environment by investigating the interfacial reaction mechanism and combined ecotoxicity of NPs and additives.

Keywords: Dechlorane plus; Microalgae; Molecular mechanism; Nanoplastics; Toxic effect.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Chlorella vulgaris* / metabolism
Microplastics / toxicity
Polystyrenes* / metabolism

Substances

Polystyrenes
dechlorane plus
Microplastics
Carbon