Fate and effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of microplastics in simple freshwater microcosms

Abstract

Most studies assessing the effects of microplastics (MPs) on freshwater ecosystems use reference materials of a certain size, shape, and polymer type. However, in the environment, aquatic organisms are exposed to a mixture of different polymers with different sizes and shapes, resulting in different bioaccessible fractions and effects. This study assesses the fate and effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fragments, polypropylene (PP) fragments, and polyester (PES) fibres in indoor freshwater microcosms over 28 days. The MP mixture contained common polymers found in freshwater ecosystems, had a size range between 50 and 3887 µm, and was artificially aged using a mercury lamp. The invertebrate species included in the microcosms, Lymnea stagnalis (snail) and Lumbriculus variegatus (worm), were exposed to four MP concentrations: 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 1 % of sediment dry weight. MPs fate was assessed by performing a balance of the MPs in the surface water, water column, and sediment after a stabilization period and at the end of the experiment. Sedimentation rates per day were calculated (2.13 % for PES, 1.46 % for HDPE, 1.87 % for PP). The maximum size of MPs taken up by the two species was determined and compared to the added mixture and their mouth size. The size range taken up by L. variegatus was smaller than L. stagnalis and significantly different from the size range in the added mixture. The No Observed Effect Concentrations (NOECs) for the reproduction factor of L. variegatus and the number of egg clutches produced by L. stagnalis were 0.01 % and 0.1 % sediment dry weight, respectively. The EC10 and EC50 for the same endpoint for L. stagnalis were 0.25 % and 0.52 %, respectively. This study shows that current MP exposure levels in freshwater sediments can result in sub-lethal effects on aquatic organisms, highlighting the importance of testing MP mixtures.