Biochemical effects from the co-exposure of heavy metals and biomicroplastics in tilapia

Description

The manufacture, characterisation, use, and degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) are the main areas of research into this plastic substitute in light of plastic pollution. However, little is known about PHA's capacity to bioaccumulate in the food chain and serve as a vector for heavy metal contaminants. Thus, information was gathered from the experiments of pollutant sorption, pollutant bioaccumulation, and antioxidant-enzyme modulation of four microparticles in single and co-exposure to lead (Pb) and copper (Cu): poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)], polylactic acid (PLA), and polyethylene (PE).

Steps to reproduce

Pollutants were adsorbed onto microparticles until equilibrium was reached to measure sorption capacities and rates, then administered to hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus x Oreochromis niloticus) for 30 days to assess bioaccumulated pollutant concentrations in tissues. Gene expressions of liver antioxidant enzymes were quantified using reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Institutions

• National Taiwan Ocean University

  Keelung
• Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

  Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu
• Chang Gung University

  Taoyuan, Taoyuan
• Academia Sinica

  Taipei, Taipei

Categories

Funders

• Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

  Terengganu, Malaysia

  Grant ID: Postgraduate Research Grant (PGRG) 55193/1
• Ministry of Science and Technology

  An Giang Province, Vietnam

  Grant ID: Taiwan Topic Research Project 109WFA2010316

Licence