Data for Recreational microplastics as emerging pollutants: effects of crumb rubber leachate across ecosystems

Description

This dataset contains biological response data from laboratory experiments evaluating the effects of crumb-rubber leachate on three ecologically important taxa representing freshwater, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems: planaria (Dugesia spp.), earthworms (Eisenia fetida), and dinoflagellates (Lingulodinium polyedra). Measured endpoints include survivorship, regeneration, body size, swimming behavior, body mass, stress tolerance, soil displacement, and population growth. The dataset also includes results from chemical screening of crumb-rubber leachate using LC-MS/MS suspect screening. These data were generated to assess the ecological impacts of tire-derived contaminants across multiple trophic levels and ecosystem functions.

Steps to reproduce

Steps to Reproduce This dataset was generated to evaluate the effects of crumb-rubber leachate on freshwater, terrestrial, and marine organisms. Experiments were conducted using the planarian Girardia tigrina, the earthworm Eisenia fetida, and the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis. The repository contains raw measurements, processed datasets, statistical outputs, and LC–MS/MS chemical-screening results. Crumb-rubber leachate for the planaria and earthworm experiments was prepared by combining 2 g crumb rubber with 40 mL deionized water and agitating the mixture for 18 h (modified from Li et al., 2010). Control water was collected from an artificial pond in the Stony Brook University Life Sciences Greenhouse. For dinoflagellate experiments, 500 g crumb rubber was soaked in 10 L seawater culture medium for 18 h and strained before use. Water samples were analyzed using LC–MS/MS suspect screening. Samples were diluted prior to analysis and screened against the NORMAN Suspect Exchange plasticizer database. Results provide presence/absence information for putative compounds and do not represent quantitative concentrations or confirmations using analytical standards. Planaria were acclimated for two weeks before experimentation and maintained individually in either pond water or leachate. Two experiments were conducted. In the first, tail fragments regenerated for eight days following bisection, and survivorship, body length, eyespot distance, and swimming speed were measured. In the second, planaria were preconditioned in control water or leachate for seven days before bisection. Head and tail fragments were then allowed to regenerate for an additional seven days. Body size, regeneration outcomes, survivorship, and behavior were recorded. Earthworm experiments measured soil-displacement behavior, body-mass change, and stress tolerance. For movement assays, earthworms were housed individually in narrow soil-filled enclosures containing either control soil or soil amended with crumb-rubber leachate. Images were collected every 10 min using Raspberry Pi camera systems and analyzed to quantify soil displacement. For growth experiments, individual worms were maintained in soil microcosms for 14 days before reweighing. Stress tolerance was assessed by exposing worms to elevated temperature and recording time to mortality. Dinoflagellates were maintained under a 12:12 light-dark cycle and exposed to 0%, 2.5%, or 9.75% crumb-rubber leachate. Population size was measured daily for seven days using digital image analysis performed in ImageJ. All measurements were recorded in Microsoft Excel. Data were tested for normality and analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, or ANCOVA as appropriate. Statistical significance was assessed at α = 0.05. All results reported in the associated manuscript were derived directly from the files contained in this repository.

Institutions

• Stony Brook University

  New York, Stony Brook

Categories

Funders

• U.S. National Science Foundation

  Government of the United States of America

  Alexandria

  Grant ID: 2235984

Licence