Ingestion and impacts of water‑borne polypropylene microplastics on Daphnia similis
Polypropylene microplastics · Daphnia similis · Acute exposure · Aquatic environments · Biochemical parameters
Polypropylene microplastics are the leading contaminant in aquatic environments, although research on their toxicity remains
scarce. The proposed research focuses on the harmful consequences of acute exposure to polypropylene microplastics in
Daphnia similis. This work converts widely available polypropylene bags into microplastics using xylene. FTIR findings
demonstrated the lack of xylene residue in the produced polypropylene microplastic particles, which were spherical and
ranged in size from 11.86 to 44.62 μm (FE-SEM). The results indicate that acute exposure to polypropylene microplastics
causes immobility in D. similis. Ingestion of microplastics enhances the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as
shown by biochemical studies. Due to the production of free radicals in D. similis, the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and a non-antioxidant
enzyme of reduced glutathione (GSH) and also oxidative stress effects in lipid (lipid peroxidation — LPO), protein (carbonyl
protein — CP) were increased. Additionally, the amount of the neurotransmitter enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity
was decreased. These findings indicate that the accumulation of polypropylene microplastics in the bodies of filter-feeding
organisms should aggravate toxicity in the freshwater environment.
This current work revealed a single-step fabrication of tungsten oxide nanoflakes (WO3
NFs) with the help of Terminalia arjuna bark extract. Bioactive phytoconstituents of T. arjuna bark…
In the present work, the residual biomass of the green seaweed Ulva lactuca was chosen as feedstock to undergo separate
hydrolysis and fermentation process to produce bioethanol. The…
Waterbirds may be a good indicator of harmful metal levels in aquatic environments. Waterbirds’
organs and tissues were tested for the presence of pollutants, such as metals. However,
…