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Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain

Mattsson, Karin LU ; Johnson, Elyse V. ; Malmendal, Anders LU ; Linse, Sara LU ; Hansson, Lars Anders LU orcid and Cedervall, Tommy LU (2017) In Scientific Reports 7(1).
Abstract

The tremendous increases in production of plastic materials has led to an accumulation of plastic pollution worldwide. Many studies have addressed the physical effects of large-sized plastics on organisms, whereas few have focused on plastic nanoparticles, despite their distinct chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Hence our understanding of their effects on ecosystem function, behaviour and metabolism of organisms remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles reduce survival of aquatic zooplankton and penetrate the blood-to-brain barrier in fish and cause behavioural disorders. Hence, for the first time, we uncover direct interactions between plastic nanoparticles and brain tissue, which is the likely... (More)

The tremendous increases in production of plastic materials has led to an accumulation of plastic pollution worldwide. Many studies have addressed the physical effects of large-sized plastics on organisms, whereas few have focused on plastic nanoparticles, despite their distinct chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Hence our understanding of their effects on ecosystem function, behaviour and metabolism of organisms remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles reduce survival of aquatic zooplankton and penetrate the blood-to-brain barrier in fish and cause behavioural disorders. Hence, for the first time, we uncover direct interactions between plastic nanoparticles and brain tissue, which is the likely mechanism behind the observed behavioural disorders in the top consumer. In a broader perspective, our findings demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles are transferred up through a food chain, enter the brain of the top consumer and affect its behaviour, thereby severely disrupting the function of natural ecosystems.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
7
issue
1
article number
11452
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85029316282
  • pmid:28904346
  • wos:000410666900010
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5aca1e1a-d870-4329-a1e0-d66646d868fd
date added to LUP
2017-09-28 15:02:15
date last changed
2024-02-29 22:07:59
@article{5aca1e1a-d870-4329-a1e0-d66646d868fd,
  abstract     = {{<p>The tremendous increases in production of plastic materials has led to an accumulation of plastic pollution worldwide. Many studies have addressed the physical effects of large-sized plastics on organisms, whereas few have focused on plastic nanoparticles, despite their distinct chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Hence our understanding of their effects on ecosystem function, behaviour and metabolism of organisms remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles reduce survival of aquatic zooplankton and penetrate the blood-to-brain barrier in fish and cause behavioural disorders. Hence, for the first time, we uncover direct interactions between plastic nanoparticles and brain tissue, which is the likely mechanism behind the observed behavioural disorders in the top consumer. In a broader perspective, our findings demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles are transferred up through a food chain, enter the brain of the top consumer and affect its behaviour, thereby severely disrupting the function of natural ecosystems.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mattsson, Karin and Johnson, Elyse V. and Malmendal, Anders and Linse, Sara and Hansson, Lars Anders and Cedervall, Tommy}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}