title: Do plastic particles affect microalgal photosynthesis and growth?
abstract: The unbridled increase in plastic pollution of the world's oceans raises concerns about potential effects these materials may have on microalgae, which are primary producers at the basis of the food chain and a major global source of oxygen. Our current understanding about the potential modes and mechanisms of toxic action that plastic particles exert on microalgae is extremely limited. How effects might vary with particle size and the physico-chemical properties of the specific plastic material in question are equally unelucidated, but may hold clues to how toxicity, if observed, is exerted. In this study we selected polystyrene particles, both negatively charged and uncharged, and three different sizes (0.05, 0.5 and 6μm) for testing the effects of size and material properties. Microalgae were exposed to different polystyrene particle sizes and surface charges for 72h. Effects on microalgal photosynthesis and growth were determined by pulse amplitude modulation fluorometry and flow cytometry, respectively. None of the treatments tested in these experiments had an effect on microalgal photosynthesis. Microalgal growth was negatively affected (up to 45%) by uncharged polystyrene particles, but only at high concentrations (250mg/L). Additionally, these adverse effects were demonstrated to increase with decreasing particle size.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Environmental Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: sbsjollema@me.com.
authors.forename: Sascha B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sjollema
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Environmental Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: paula.redondoh@estudiante.uam.es.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Redondo-Hasselerharm
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: heather.leslie@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Environmental Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: M.H.S.Kraak@uva.nl.
authors.forename: Michiel H S
authors.initials: MHS
authors.lastname: Kraak
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Deltares, Marine and Coastal Systems, Boussinesqweg 1, 2629 HV Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: dick.vethaak@deltares.nl.
authors.forename: A Dick
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Vethaak
mesh_terms: D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D010316:Particle Size; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Microplastics; Nanoplastics; PAM assay; Plastic pollution; Polystyrene particles; Primary production