Evaluation of Dose dependent Polyvinyl chloride and Polystyrene Microplastic Toxicity in Wister Albino rats

Abstract

Microplastic (MPs), diameter <5mm is becoming a major environmental health concerning issue but however limited information is available on the exposure and toxicity of MPs on mammal health. Our research study examined the harmful consequences of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics on body weight, blood glucose, different blood parameters and oxidative stress of wister albino rats. SEM analysis was performed for the characterization of PVC and PS MPs. In in-vivo analysis, the rats were grouped into five. Four groups; Group 2 to Group 5 were exposed to PVC and PS at different doses (300mg/kg, 1000mg/kg) and Group 1 was used as a control group. After eight weeks of exposure, the change in body weight and blood parameters was determined that showed a significant change on the body of rats. The significant decline in the body weight (PVC 0.0021: PS 0.0055) and increase in blood glucose (PVC 0.0006; 0.0009 PS) on addition of polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene to the rat’s feed. The harmful effect was also analyzed on internal organs which depicted the increase in total cholesterol (PVC 0.0006; PS 0.0009), triglyceride (PVC 0.0001; PS 0.0026), low density lipoprotein (PVC 0.0226; PS 0.0051), alanine transaminase (PVC; PS <0.0001), albumin (PVC 0.0037; PS 0.0001), creatinine (PVC; PS <0.0001), uric acid (PVC 0.0009; PS 0.0014), superoxidase dismutase (PVC 0.0025; PS 0.0017), malonaldehyde (PVC; PS <0.0001) whereas decrease in high density lipoprotein (PVC 0.0255; PS 0.0057), alkaline phosphatase (PVC; PS <0.0001) and catalase (PVC 0.0095; PS 0.030). Also, the histopathological analysis of the renal and hepatic tissue showed the toxicological effect of PVC and PS. According to the findings of this study, MPs like PS and PVC both have toxic effects to both people and animals.