Abstract:
The contamination of marine ecosystems due to microplastics pollution represents a
critical environmental threat. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment
and comparative analysis of the potential risks posed by individual and combined
microplastics on the filter-feeding micro crustacean, Artemia salina. Recognizing the
extensive presence of microplastics in the environment, this research specifically
focused on evaluating the impacts of three prominent microplastics types, Low-Density
Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
commonly encountered in aquatic environments. The research findings showed
significant variations in the lethal concentration (LC50) values among individual
microplastics. Notably, PP, HDPE, and LDPE exhibited LC50 values of 124, 107, and
103 mg/l, respectively. Remarkably, when all three microplastics coexisted, there was
a substantial reduction in the LC50 value to 68.2 mg/l. This decrease indicated an
elevated mortality rate among Artemia salina, underscoring the compounded stress
imposed by the simultaneous presence of these plastic polymers. This suggested that
combined exposure to multiple microplastics may pose a more severe threat to the
survival of Artemia salina than exposure to each type individually. Swimming behavior
was significantly affected as microplastics concentrations rise, in both mono and co-
exposure scenarios. Bioaccumulation analysis indicates comparable microplastics
accumulation at lower concentrations, but higher concentrations lead to increased
accumulation in Artemia salina due to heightened environmental microplastics
abundance.
