OKTECH (China)

To date, several studies have investigated the influence of micoplastics (MPs) on scleractinian coral. However, research of MPs on button polyps (Protopalythoa sp.) is still in its infancy. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects induced by the presence of three types of MPs, namely, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), on button polyps (Protopalythoa sp.) after short (96 h)- and long (28 day)-term exposure. The results showed that MPs can adhere to the coral surface and enter the coral body, which causes coral to secrete mucus and lose symbiotic zooxanthellae. Moreover, the chlorophyll content of coral and the levels of several metabolic-related enzymes including glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxide (LPO), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were measured. The results indicate type- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects of MPs. On short-term exposure, the MPs cause the corals to produce a mass of peroxides, which also initiate their immune and detoxification systems. After long-term exposure, the immunocompetence, photosynthetic efficiency, and oxidation resistance of corals were damaged to varying degrees by MPs.