title: Effects of Toxic Leachate from Commercial Plastics on Larval Survival and Settlement of the Barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite.
abstract: Plastic pollution represents a major and growing global problem. It is well-known that plastics are a source of chemical contaminants to the aquatic environment and provide novel habitats for marine organisms. The present study quantified the impacts of plastic leachates from the seven categories of recyclable plastics on larval survival and settlement of barnacle Amphibalanus (=Balanus) amphitrite. Leachates from plastics significantly increased barnacle nauplii mortality at the highest tested concentrations (0.10 and 0.50 m(2)/L). Hydrophobicity (measured as surface energy) was positively correlated with mortality indicating that plastic surface chemistry may be an important factor in the effects of plastics on sessile organisms. Plastic leachates significantly inhibited barnacle cyprids settlement on glass at all tested concentrations. Settlement on plastic surfaces was significantly inhibited after 24 and 48 h, but settlement was not significantly inhibited compared to the controls for some plastics after 72-96 h. In 24 h exposure to seawater, we found larval toxicity and inhibition of settlement with all seven categories of recyclable commercial plastics. Chemical analysis revealed a complex mixture of substances released in plastic leachates. Leaching of toxic compounds from all plastics should be considered when assessing the risks of plastic pollution.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guangzhou 510301, China.|Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States.
authors.forename: Heng-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.
authors.forename: Gordon J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Getzinger
authors.affiliation: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.|Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.
authors.forename: P Lee
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orihuela
authors.affiliation: Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rittschof
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D001468:Thoracica / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics