The effect of microplastics pollution in microalgal biomass production: a biochemical study

Cunha, César; Lopes, Joana; Paulo, Jorge; Faria, Marisa; Kaufmann, Manfred; Nogueira, Natacha; Ferreira, Artur; Cordeiro, Nereida

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/3283

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Abstract(s)

Microplastics (MPs) are widely spread throughout aquatic systems and water bodies. Given that water quality is one of the most important parameters in the microalgal-based industry, it is critical to assess the biochemical impact of short- and long-term exposure to MPs pollution. Here, the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum was exposed to water contaminated with 0.5 and 50 mg L-1 of polystyrene (PS) and/or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Results show that the microalgal cultures exposed to lower concentrations of PS displayed a growth enhancement of up to 73% in the first stage (days 3-9) of the exponential growth phase. Surprisingly, and despite the fact that long-term exposure to MPs contamination did not impair microalgal growth, a steep decrease in biomass production (of up to 82%) was observed. The production of photosynthetic pigments was shown to be pH-correlated during the full growth cycle, but cell density-independent in later stages of culturing. The extracellular carbohydrates production exhibited a major decrease during long-term exposure. Still, the production of extracellular proteins was not affected by the presence of MPs. This pilot laboratory-scale study shows that the microalgal exposure to water contaminated with MPs disturbs its biochemical equilibrium in a time-dependent manner, decreasing biomass production. Thus, microalgal industry-related consequences derived from the use of MPs-contaminated water are a plausible possibility.

Keywords

Microplastics contamination Polystyrene Polymethyl methacrylate Microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum Biomass . Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.13/3283

Citation

Cunha, C., Lopes, J., Paulo, J., Faria, M., Kaufmann, M., Nogueira, N., ... & Cordeiro, N. (2020). The effect of microplastics pollution in microalgal biomass production: A biochemical study. Water Research, 186, 116370.