Insights into the effects of aging on the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and chlordane against Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Nanoplastics are emerging contaminants that may co-exist with organochlorine pesticides and adversely affect invertebrates in the environment. However, the impact of environmental aging on the combined toxicity of nanoplastics and organochlorine pesticides remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of aging on the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) and chlordane against Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that photo-aging altered the physicochemical properties of PS NPs and promoted the combined toxicity of PS NPs and chlordane to nematodes by reducing survival rate, body length and enhancing germline apoptosis. Additionally, combined exposure of nematodes to aged PS NPs and chlordane significantly increased reactive oxygen species production and intestinal permeability, suggesting that aging enhances combined toxicity through oxidative stress and intestinal damage. Moreover, aging increased chlordane contents in nematodes without promoting PS NPs accumulation, potentially leading to increased combined toxicity of PS NPs and chlordane. Notably, aging significantly increased the accumulation of PS NPs in the posterior intestine of the nematode during co-exposure, which may be responsible for the most sensitive and highest degree of change in germline apoptosis. These observations emphasize the significance of accounting for environmental aging as well as the accumulation and distribution of nanoplastics in organisms when assessing the combined effects of nanoplastics and coexisting pollutants.