The effect of single and combined microplastics with heavy metals Cu and Pb on digestive enzymes in Anadara granosa Beta Susanto Barus, Risma Amelia
Sriwijaya University
Abstract
The contaminant most frequently found in aquatic habitats and potentially harms living things is called microplastic (MPs). MPs can interact with other pollutants, such as heavy metals. This study aims to investigate the effects of polystyrene (PS) particle of different sizes (20 and 150 μ-m) on the digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, and lipase) of Anadara granosa, either alone or in combination with two distinct heavy metals (copper/Cu and lead/Pb). According to this study, clams^ digestive enzyme responses often increased from days 5 to 7, then dropped the next day until the observation^s completion. Higher enzyme activity results from exposure to larger particles than from smaller ones. When heavy metals and MPs particles were exposed together, the peak phase of digestive enzyme activity was significantly higher (p<0.05) than when only particle or heavy metal was present. Hard clams exposed to MPs in combination with Pb increased digestive enzyme activity more than those exposed to MPs in combination with Cu. In addition, when PS particles were combined with Pb metal instead of Cu metal, the activity of digestive enzymes changed more quickly in the exposed clams.
