미세플라스틱 형태와 크기에 따른 지중해담치(Mytilus galloprovincialis) 의 생존율과 조직학적 변화

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) in marine ecosystems are a growing concern worldwide, posing a threat to various aquatic species through ingestion and bioaccumulation. In this study, we compared the acute toxic effects of exposure to MPs of different shapes, sizes, and concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels over 4 days. To this end, we investigated the survival rate and histopathological changes in M. galloprovincialis exposed to MPs. The survival rate significantly decreased following exposure to small and large spherical and fibrous MPs, whereas no significant survival changes were observed between the control group and the group exposed to fragmented MPs. H&E staining of the gill indicated alterations in gill morphology, including increases in gill filament width, intradistance among gill filaments, and interdistance among gill filaments in ciliated regions. Among the tested MPs, fibrous MPs, a dominant pollutant, induced the most pronounced decreases in survival and the most severe gill morphological disorders. Overall, small-fiber MPs exerted toxic effects on the survival and gill histological structure of mussels. These findings suggest that MPs of different shapes and sizes at varying concentrations can differentially affect mussel survival by disrupting gill function and influencing accumulation potential.