Microplastics reduced posterior segment regeneration rate of the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis

Microplastics are found in abundance in and on coastal sediments, and yet, whether exposure to this emerging pollutant negatively impact whole organism function is unknown. Focusing on a commercially important polychaete, Perinereis aibuhitensis, we demonstrated that presence of microplastics increased mortality and reduced the rate of posterior segment regeneration. The impact of the micro-polystyrene beads was size-dependent with smaller beads (8-12 μm in diameter) being more detrimental than those bigger in size (32-38 μm). This observed difference suggests microplastic impact could be affected by physical properties, e.g., sinking speed, surface area available for sorption of chemicals and bacteria, and selective feeding behaviors of the target organism.