Modeling the impact of polystyrene microparticles on toxicity of phenol to Artemia

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The increasing use and availability of micro and nanoparticles for use in science, technology and daily consumer products has led to unique challenges related to understanding their toxicity and exposure pathways for proper ecological and human health risk assessments In marine environments for example, plastic pollution constitutes a threat to marine wildlife due to the potential impacts related to entanglement and ingestion of plastic debris. However, studies related to the fate and transport of plastic-based materials fragmented into micro-sizes and their interaction with other pollutants have been limited. The research purpose of this study involved an evaluation of the fate and impact of polystyrene microparticles and phenol (organic pollutant) to a marine invertebrate (Artemia, brine shrimp). The results were guided towards developing a mathematical model that could explain the toxicity of plastic microparticles and phenol to a marine organism. This model was supported by toxicology experiments of Artemia exposed to phenol and polystyrene beads. Results suggested that the presence of suspended plastic microparticles can potentially increase or decrease the apparent acute toxicity of an organic compound to a filter-feeding aquatic organism such as Artemia depending on the affinity of both particles and Artemia to phenol as well as the uptake and retention of microparticles by these organisms.