title: Microplastic ingestion decreases energy reserves in marine worms.
abstract: The indiscriminate disposal of plastic to the environment is of concern. Microscopic plastic litter (<5 mm diameter; 'microplastic') is increasing in abundance in the marine environment, originating from the fragmentation of plastic items and from industry and personal-care products [1]. On highly impacted beaches, microplastic concentrations (<1mm) can reach 3% by weight, presenting a global conservation issue [2]. Microplastics are a novel substrate for the adherence of hydrophobic contaminants [1], deposition of eggs [3], and colonization by unique bacterial assemblages [4]. Ingestion by indiscriminate deposit-feeders has been reported, yet physical impacts remain understudied [1]. Here, we show that deposit-feeding marine worms maintained in sediments spiked with microscopic unplasticised polyvinylchloride (UPVC) at concentrations overlapping those in the environment had significantly depleted energy reserves by up to 50% (Figure 1). Our results suggest that depleted energy reserves arise from a combination of reduced feeding activity, longer gut residence times of ingested material and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Tamara S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Galloway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D012037:Refuse Disposal
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride