Scholarship 24/12274-2 - Ecotoxicologia, Interação - BV FAPESP
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Effects of the influence of photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics and their interaction with imidacloprid insecticide on toxicity to Daphnia similis (Cladocera)

Grant number: 24/12274-2
Support Opportunities:Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
Start date until: September 01, 2024
End date until: August 31, 2025
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
Principal Investigator:Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espindola
Grantee:Maria Eduarda Kiihl
Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
Associated research grant:22/12104-4 - Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts, AP.TEM

Abstract

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in environmental compartments is widely documented by the scientific community, reflecting the intensive use and inappropriate disposal of plastic materials. This form of pollution has emerged as one of the most serious environmental threats of the 21st century, raising growing concerns among experts, government authorities and society in general. In freshwater environments, MPs are a growing concern due to their slow handling and ability to adsorb contaminants such as metals, nutrients and pesticides. The insecticide imidacloprid, for example, is widely used in agriculture in crops such as sugar cane, soybeans and cotton. This insecticide can contaminate water bodies through surface runoff, carryover and leaching and when it comes into contact with MPs it can be adsorbed, increasing its persistence and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems. This scenario can have a deleterious impact on several aquatic organisms, such as the cladoceran Daphnia similis, responsible for nutrient cycling, secondary production and filtered water. The photodegradation of microplastics by UV radiation intensifies these challenges, increasing the capacity of MPs to transport contaminants. However, research in ecotoxicology has mainly focused on the effects of MPs on marine organisms. Therefore, this objective research proposal investigates the influence of photodegradation on the toxicity of polyethylene MPs alone and in mixture with the insecticide imidacloprid on the species D. similis. To achieve this, polyethylene microparticles will be subjected to photodegradation for subsequent assessment of their toxicity before and after manipulation, alone and in combination with the insecticide imidacloprid. The results will enable the analysis of the morphological and molecular aspects of the photodegradation of MPs, in addition to understanding their toxic effects alone and in combination with the insecticide imidacloprid. This will make it possible to understand the influence of photodegradation and the interaction between MPs and pesticides on the species D. similis.

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