Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain

Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh; Sille Holm; Raine Kortet; Mandar Bandekar; Jukka Kekäläinen; Arto Koistinen; Jari T.T. Leskinen; Jarkko Akkanen; Hannu Huuskonen; Anu Valtonen; Lan Dupuis; Willie Peijnenburg; Iseult Lynch; Eugenia Valsami-Jones; Jussi V.K. Kukkonen

doi:10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611

Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain

Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh^*, Sille Holm, Raine Kortet, Mandar Bandekar, Jukka Kekäläinen, Arto Koistinen, Jari T.T. Leskinen, Jarkko Akkanen, Hannu Huuskonen, Anu Valtonen, Lan Dupuis, Willie Peijnenburg, Iseult Lynch, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Jussi V.K. Kukkonen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Sub-micron plastics (SMPs, size < 1 µm) are potentially taken up by plants. Serious concerns arise that how far SMPs can transfer from plants into food webs. Here, we show that lettuce takes up 250 nm gadolinium labelled polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) SMPs from the soil. The polymer type influences the biodistribution of the particles in lettuce (roots and leaves) and the number of particles transferred from the plants to insects feeding on the treated lettuce. The SMPs were further transferred from insects to insect-feeding fish to accumulate mostly in the fish liver. No Gd was released from the particles upon biotransformation (formation of protein corona on the particles) in the plants or insects. However, Gd ion was detected in fish fed with PS-SMP treated insects, indicating the possible degradation of the particles. No biomagnification in fish was detected for either type of SMPs. We conclude that plastic particles can potentially transfer from soil into food webs and the chemical composition of plastics influences their biodistribution and trophic transfer in organisms.

Original language	English
Article number	101611
Journal	Nano Today
Volume	46
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611
Publication status	Published - 9 Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation. The study was also partially funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367) and RiskGONE (814425). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasjärvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Pirilä for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance. F.A.M. designed the experiments, conceptualized, supervised, wrote and reviewed the study. F.A.M. J.K. J.A. R.K. and M.B. performed the soil-plant experiment. F.A.M. S.H. and A.V. performed the plant-insect experiment. F.A.M. R.K. H.H. and L.D. performed the insect-fish experiment. F.A.M. M.B. S.H. R.K. and L.D. studied the biotransformation of the particles in different physiological media. F.A.M. W.J.G. and M.P. designed and characterized the SMPs. F.A.M. and M.B. performed the spICP-MS and ICP-MS measurement. F.A.M. J.L. and A.K. performed the sample preparation for electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and performed the imaging using SEM and TEM. F.A.M. and A.K. characterized the particles in terms of chemical compositions. J.V.K.K. W.J.G. M.P. I.L. and E.V.J. contributed to conceptualizing, designing the experiment, supervising, writing, and editing the paper. R.K. J.K. J.A. and H.H. contributed to the design of the experiment and editing the paper. The authors declare no competing interests.

Funding Information:
This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation . The study was also partially funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367 ) and RiskGONE ( 814425 ). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485 ). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasjärvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Pirilä for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)

Keywords

Biodistribution
Gadolinium labelled SMP
Method development
Nanoplastics
Polystyrene
Polyvinyl chloride

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biotechnology
Bioengineering
Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science(all)
Pharmaceutical Science

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Cite this

Abdolahpur Monikh, F., Holm, S., Kortet, R., Bandekar, M., Kekäläinen, J., Koistinen, A., Leskinen, J. T. T., Akkanen, J., Huuskonen, H., Valtonen, A., Dupuis, L., Peijnenburg, W., Lynch, I., Valsami-Jones, E., & Kukkonen, J. V. K. (2022). Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain. Nano Today, 46, Article 101611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611

@article{903f8038907b4e3aaf31023b837733dd,

title = "Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain",

abstract = "Sub-micron plastics (SMPs, size < 1 µm) are potentially taken up by plants. Serious concerns arise that how far SMPs can transfer from plants into food webs. Here, we show that lettuce takes up 250 nm gadolinium labelled polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) SMPs from the soil. The polymer type influences the biodistribution of the particles in lettuce (roots and leaves) and the number of particles transferred from the plants to insects feeding on the treated lettuce. The SMPs were further transferred from insects to insect-feeding fish to accumulate mostly in the fish liver. No Gd was released from the particles upon biotransformation (formation of protein corona on the particles) in the plants or insects. However, Gd ion was detected in fish fed with PS-SMP treated insects, indicating the possible degradation of the particles. No biomagnification in fish was detected for either type of SMPs. We conclude that plastic particles can potentially transfer from soil into food webs and the chemical composition of plastics influences their biodistribution and trophic transfer in organisms.",

keywords = "Biodistribution, Gadolinium labelled SMP, Method development, Nanoplastics, Polystyrene, Polyvinyl chloride",

author = "{Abdolahpur Monikh}, Fazel and Sille Holm and Raine Kortet and Mandar Bandekar and Jukka Kek{\"a}l{\"a}inen and Arto Koistinen and Leskinen, {Jari T.T.} and Jarkko Akkanen and Hannu Huuskonen and Anu Valtonen and Lan Dupuis and Willie Peijnenburg and Iseult Lynch and Eugenia Valsami-Jones and Kukkonen, {Jussi V.K.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation. The study was also partially funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367) and RiskGONE (814425). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasj{\"a}rvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Piril{\"a} for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance. F.A.M. designed the experiments, conceptualized, supervised, wrote and reviewed the study. F.A.M. J.K. J.A. R.K. and M.B. performed the soil-plant experiment. F.A.M. S.H. and A.V. performed the plant-insect experiment. F.A.M. R.K. H.H. and L.D. performed the insect-fish experiment. F.A.M. M.B. S.H. R.K. and L.D. studied the biotransformation of the particles in different physiological media. F.A.M. W.J.G. and M.P. designed and characterized the SMPs. F.A.M. and M.B. performed the spICP-MS and ICP-MS measurement. F.A.M. J.L. and A.K. performed the sample preparation for electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and performed the imaging using SEM and TEM. F.A.M. and A.K. characterized the particles in terms of chemical compositions. J.V.K.K. W.J.G. M.P. I.L. and E.V.J. contributed to conceptualizing, designing the experiment, supervising, writing, and editing the paper. R.K. J.K. J.A. and H.H. contributed to the design of the experiment and editing the paper. The authors declare no competing interests. Funding Information: This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation . The study was also partially funded by the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367 ) and RiskGONE ( 814425 ). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485 ). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasj{\"a}rvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Piril{\"a} for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Author(s)",

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month = sep,

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doi = "10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

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Abdolahpur Monikh, F, Holm, S, Kortet, R, Bandekar, M, Kekäläinen, J, Koistinen, A, Leskinen, JTT, Akkanen, J, Huuskonen, H, Valtonen, A, Dupuis, L, Peijnenburg, W, Lynch, I , Valsami-Jones, E & Kukkonen, JVK 2022, 'Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain', Nano Today, vol. 46, 101611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611

TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain

AU - Abdolahpur Monikh, Fazel

AU - Holm, Sille

AU - Kortet, Raine

AU - Bandekar, Mandar

AU - Kekäläinen, Jukka

AU - Koistinen, Arto

AU - Leskinen, Jari T.T.

AU - Akkanen, Jarkko

AU - Huuskonen, Hannu

AU - Valtonen, Anu

AU - Dupuis, Lan

AU - Peijnenburg, Willie

AU - Lynch, Iseult

AU - Valsami-Jones, Eugenia

AU - Kukkonen, Jussi V.K.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation. The study was also partially funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367) and RiskGONE (814425). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasjärvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Pirilä for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance. F.A.M. designed the experiments, conceptualized, supervised, wrote and reviewed the study. F.A.M. J.K. J.A. R.K. and M.B. performed the soil-plant experiment. F.A.M. S.H. and A.V. performed the plant-insect experiment. F.A.M. R.K. H.H. and L.D. performed the insect-fish experiment. F.A.M. M.B. S.H. R.K. and L.D. studied the biotransformation of the particles in different physiological media. F.A.M. W.J.G. and M.P. designed and characterized the SMPs. F.A.M. and M.B. performed the spICP-MS and ICP-MS measurement. F.A.M. J.L. and A.K. performed the sample preparation for electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and performed the imaging using SEM and TEM. F.A.M. and A.K. characterized the particles in terms of chemical compositions. J.V.K.K. W.J.G. M.P. I.L. and E.V.J. contributed to conceptualizing, designing the experiment, supervising, writing, and editing the paper. R.K. J.K. J.A. and H.H. contributed to the design of the experiment and editing the paper. The authors declare no competing interests. Funding Information: This study was funded by University of Eastern Finland water program, which is co-funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, Wihuri Foundation and Olvi Foundation . The study was also partially funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, via the projects PLASTICSFATE (Grant Agreement number 965367 ) and RiskGONE ( 814425 ). I.L. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust grant “PlasticRivers”, R.K. acknowledges funding from the SUREAQUA, and J.K. from Academy of Finland (project 308485 ). We would like to thank Pyry Pihlasvaara and Marja Noponen for their help in performing the laboratory work. We also thank Virpi Miettinen for helping with sample preparation for SEM and TEM and Dr. Emilia Uurasjärvi for help in determining the SMPs chemical composition using Raman Spectroscopy. We would also like to thank Pasi Yli-Pirilä for his help in performing the ICP-MS measurements. We are grateful to SIB Labs Kuopio Electron Microscopy Facility, part of Biocenter Kuopio and Biocenter Finland for technical and financial assistance. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)

PY - 2022/9/9

Y1 - 2022/9/9

N2 - Sub-micron plastics (SMPs, size < 1 µm) are potentially taken up by plants. Serious concerns arise that how far SMPs can transfer from plants into food webs. Here, we show that lettuce takes up 250 nm gadolinium labelled polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) SMPs from the soil. The polymer type influences the biodistribution of the particles in lettuce (roots and leaves) and the number of particles transferred from the plants to insects feeding on the treated lettuce. The SMPs were further transferred from insects to insect-feeding fish to accumulate mostly in the fish liver. No Gd was released from the particles upon biotransformation (formation of protein corona on the particles) in the plants or insects. However, Gd ion was detected in fish fed with PS-SMP treated insects, indicating the possible degradation of the particles. No biomagnification in fish was detected for either type of SMPs. We conclude that plastic particles can potentially transfer from soil into food webs and the chemical composition of plastics influences their biodistribution and trophic transfer in organisms.

AB - Sub-micron plastics (SMPs, size < 1 µm) are potentially taken up by plants. Serious concerns arise that how far SMPs can transfer from plants into food webs. Here, we show that lettuce takes up 250 nm gadolinium labelled polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) SMPs from the soil. The polymer type influences the biodistribution of the particles in lettuce (roots and leaves) and the number of particles transferred from the plants to insects feeding on the treated lettuce. The SMPs were further transferred from insects to insect-feeding fish to accumulate mostly in the fish liver. No Gd was released from the particles upon biotransformation (formation of protein corona on the particles) in the plants or insects. However, Gd ion was detected in fish fed with PS-SMP treated insects, indicating the possible degradation of the particles. No biomagnification in fish was detected for either type of SMPs. We conclude that plastic particles can potentially transfer from soil into food webs and the chemical composition of plastics influences their biodistribution and trophic transfer in organisms.

KW - Biodistribution

KW - Gadolinium labelled SMP

KW - Method development

KW - Nanoplastics

KW - Polystyrene

KW - Polyvinyl chloride

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137622082&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611

DO - 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101611

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85137622082

SN - 1748-0132

VL - 46

JO - Nano Today

JF - Nano Today

M1 - 101611

ER -

Quantifying the trophic transfer of sub-micron plastics in an assembled food chain

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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