, 2010). As plastic

nanoparticles in the water are of a comparable size scale, understanding their mechanisms of interaction selleck products with the nano- or picofauna is particularly important. While some limited data on the interaction of nanoparticles with biota is available, the studies have been for the most part on non-organic, engineered nanoparticles such as oxides, metals, carbon nanotubes and quantum dots (Templeton et al., 2006). Though these have shown different levels of toxicity to algae (Hund-Rinke and Simon, 2006), zooplankton (Lovern and Klaper, 2006: Templeton et al., 2006), Daphnea sp. ( Roberts et al., 2007), zebra fish embryo ( Usenko et al., 2008 and Zhu et al., 2007), bivalves ( Gagné et al., 2008) fat-head minnow ( Zhu et al., 2006), rainbow trout ( Smith et al., 2007 and Federici et al., 2007), Zebra fish ( Griffitt et al., 2008 and Asharani

et al., 2008), the data cannot be reliably extrapolated to polymer nanoparticles. Inorganic nanoparticles may carry some POPs via surface absorption but plastic particles are expected to have much higher levels of matrix-solubilised POPs. Data on the effects of plastic nanoparticles on marine flora and fauna selleck chemical ( Bhattacharya et al., 2010; Brown et al., 2001) are limited. Pico- and nanoparticles are within the size range where these can enter cells by endocytosis. This route of interaction is effective and the potential of using nanoparticles to deliver drugs intra-cellularlly

is being actively explored. Physiological impacts of endocytosed polymer nanoparticles carrying POPS in planktons have not been studied. Interaction of nanoplastic debris with biota can result in their internalisation affecting marine animals systemically. For instance, nanoparticles of Fullerene that deposit on gill epithelium of Bass can be internalised and be directed to the brain via axonic pathway of the olfactory nerve (Oberdörster, 2004), a route also available for biological particles such as virusus. A polymer nanoparticle laden with POPs can also follow the same pathway likely deposit its load into lipophilic Fluorometholone Acetate neural tissue. Production trends, usage patterns and changing demographics will result in an increase in the incidence of plastics debris and microplastics, in the ocean environment. A primary mechanism for microplastics generation appears to be the weathering-related fracturing and surface embrittlement of plastics in beach environments. Micro- and nanoplastics are recalcitrant materials under marine exposure conditions. While they constitute only a very small fraction of the micro- and nanoparticulates present in sea water, the proven propensity of plastics to absorb and concentrate POPs is a serious concern. As POPs – laden particles are potentially ingestible by marine organisms including micro- and nanoplankton species, the delivery of toxins across trophic levels via this mechanism is very likely.