Microplastics and PFAS Combined: A Growing Threat to Wildlife and the Environment
Microplastics and persistant materials known as ‘forever chemicals’ are two of the most concerning modern pollution problems. Recent research has shed light on how their impact on the environment drastically increases when combined.
A team of researchers from the University of Birmingham in the UK conducted a study on the effects of microplastics and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) on Daphnia magna water fleas. The study looked at the effects of these pollutants both separately and when mixed together.
Exposing Daphnia to both pollutants together under laboratory conditions resulted in up to 41 percent more damage to the water fleas compared to when the plastics and forever chemicals were tested separately. The harmful effects included stunted growth, delayed sexual maturity, and reduced offspring. The severity of harm was found to be greater in tests on water fleas that had previous exposure to other chemical pollutants, indicating a cumulative effect.
Environmental scientist Mohamed Abdallah emphasized the importance of studying the combined impacts of pollutants on wildlife throughout their lifecycle to better understand the risks posed by these pollutants under real-life conditions. This knowledge is crucial for driving conservation efforts and informing policies to address the growing threat of emerging contaminants such as forever chemicals.
Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) across, which accumulate in the environment due to the breakdown of larger materials or shedding of synthetic fibers. On the other hand, PFAS are used in various manufacturing processes for their fire-suppressing properties and have been linked to kidney damage and cancer growth. These pollutants, slow to break down, have been found in wildlife and even falling rain, making them as ubiquitous in our environment as microplastics.
The study aimed to simulate D. magna’s potential exposure to both microplastics and PFAS in their natural environment. These water fleas play a vital role in the aquatic food chain and serve as indicators of environmental pollution.
Evolutionary systems biologist Luisa Orsini highlighted the importance of understanding how PFAS chemicals affect gene function, providing crucial insights into their long-term biological impacts. With advancements in analytical methods and technology, researchers hope to better quantify the harm caused by multiple pollutants under more complex circumstances.
Orsini stressed the need for regulatory frameworks to address the unintended combinations of pollutants in the environment, as understanding the chronic, long-term effects of chemical mixtures is crucial. Previous exposures to other chemicals and environmental threats may weaken organisms’ ability to tolerate novel chemical pollution.
The findings of the study have been published in Environmental Pollution.
