PAEs level in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax experimentally exposed to PVC microplastics

Release of hazardous chemicals and plastic additives from ingested plastic debris constitute a potential threat to marine organisms, which needs to be investigated in particular fish species of high value for human consumption. Among plastic additives that recently attracted the attention of the scientific community there are phthalate esters (PAEs), which can have various noxious toxic effects on organisms, in particular, they are able to act as endocrine disruptors (EDs) even at very low concentrations. This study investigates, for the first time, the presence of eight different phthalates (MBZP, MBP, MEPH, DNHP, BBzP, DEPH, DIOIP and DNDP) in muscle of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax chronically exposed to microplastics. The fish were exposed for 90 days to three different treatment diets: food pellets as control (CTRL), food pellets supplemented with native 300 μg mL-1, DC: 50 ng mL-1). Post-exposureM PVC microplastics (0.1% w/w 0.3 mm PVC; MPV), food pellets supplemented with polluted microplastics incubated for three months in the waters of Milazzo harbor (0.1% w/w0.3 mm PVC; MPI). After 30, 60 and 90 days, fish were sacrified, and muscle stored for subsequent analysis at -80◦C. Taking into account the ubiquitous nature of plasticizers stringent laboratory and sampling procedures were taken to ensuring the integrity of results. The DIOIP concentrations were below the detection limit in all sample, with regard to the detected PAEs, results evidenced a different fingerprint among the different treatments. Muscles of fish treated with MPI show higher PAEs concentration than MPV and control and seem to decrease with increasing time of exposure. DEHP was the PAEs whit highest frequency of detection and its concentrations ranged from 1.10 to 3.56 μg mL-1, DC: 50 ng mL-1). Post-exposureg/g d.w. This compound is used as a plasticizer in polymer products, and it represents more than 95% of the total use of PAEs in Europe, mainly in flexible PVC.