Article,
Metabolomics-based analysis in Daphnia magna after exposure to low environmental concentrations of polystyrene nanoparticles
Affiliations
- [1] Lund Univ, Dept Biochem & Struct Biol, POB 124, S-22100 Lund, Sweden [NORA names: Sweden; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [2] Roskilde Univ, Dept Sci & Environm, POB 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark [NORA names: RUC Roskilde University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]
Abstract
Larger plastic pieces break down into micro- and eventually nano-sized plastics. This makes nanoplastics ubiquitous in the environment, giving rise to great concern for its effect on biota. Many studies use polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) as a model for nanoplastics, showing a negative impact on various organisms, but the molecular effects are yet not fully explored. Here we applied H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics to characterize the metabolic changes in Daphnia magna during long-term (37 days) exposure to low concentrations of positively and negatively charged (aminated and carboxylated) PS-NPs. We show that exposure to PS-NPs at concentrations down to 3.2 mu g L-1 affected amino acid metabolism and the bacterial metabolite isopropanol in D. magna. These effects were largely independent of particle concentration and surface charge. The results highlight the importance of (1) performing chronic exposures under low concentrations and (2) further investigation of particles with different surface charges.