High Accumulation of Microplastic Fibers in Fish Hindgut Induces an Enhancement of Triphenyl Phosphate Hydroxylation

Abstract

Fiber shedding from artificial textiles is among the primary sources of pervasive microplastics in various aquatic habitats. To avoid molten drop burning, triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) is commonly incorporated into textile fibers. However, the role of microplastic fibers (MFs) as a vehicle for TPhP remains largely unknown. Here we investigated the effects of MFs on the bioaccumulation and metabolism of TPhP in zebrafish. We applied the compound spinning technique for a non-disruptive in situ measurement of fluorescent MFs in fish, and the desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) to display the tissue distribution of TPhP and its metabolites vividly. Laboratory results showed that ingested MFs did not change the TPhP distribution in fish; however, they statistically increased the metabolite p -OH-TPhP concentration in the fish hindgut, which was probably because the high accumulation of MFs there enhanced the TPhP hydroxylation. Field investigation further supported the lab-based analyses. Higher concentrations of MFs did cause a greater ratio of [ p -OH-TPhP]/[TPhP] in the wild fish gut, particularly in the hindgut. This study confirms that MFs can change the distribution and accumulation of additive metabolites in organisms, showing that the ingestion of MFs can indirectly but substantially influence the bioavailability and biotransformation of co-existing pollutants.

Keywords: Microplastic, triphenyl phosphate, hydroxylation, fish gut.