Toxicity of glitter to marine organisms: a baseline study with embryos of the sand-dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the toxicity of glitter particles of two colors (green and white) on the embryos of the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata. Toxicity tests were performed using both green-and white-glitter particles. Adult sand dollar individuals were collected and gametes were obtained by osmotic induction. Each glitter was tested in five test solutions: 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100% (= mg L-1). The results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test, allowing the determination of the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) and the no observed effect concentration (NOEC). The LOECs calculated for the green glitter dispersions were 0.01 % (P < 0.05) in the first two tests, and 100% in the third test. The LOECs for the white-glitter dispersions ranged from 0.01 % to 0.1 %. Our results demonstrate that glitters of both colors are capable of affecting the embryonic development of M. quinquiesperforata.