Oh great, pollution synergy exists.

___________________________________________
Combined Impact of Microplastics and PFAS on Aquatic Life: Study Reveals Greater Environmental Harm

• A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham has shed light on the combined impact of microplastics and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) on aquatic life, revealing that their combined effect is more detrimental than either chemical alone.

• The study utilized Daphnia, commonly known as water fleas, as a model organism due to their high sensitivity to chemicals, allowing researchers to assess the long-term effects of chemical mixtures on their entire life cycle.

• The findings indicate that the combination of microplastics and PFAS leads to severe toxic effects, including developmental failures, delayed sexual maturity, stunted growth, and reduced reproduction in Daphnia.

• The study highlights the importance of considering the chronic effects of chemical mixtures, as previous exposures to other chemicals and environmental threats can weaken organisms' ability to tolerate novel chemical pollution.

• The research emphasizes the need for regulatory frameworks that address the unintended combinations of pollutants in the environment and calls for a revision of current methods for assessing environmental toxicity to better understand the risks posed by emerging contaminants like microplastics and PFAS.

https://phys.org/news/2024-10-microplastics-pfas-daphnia-combined-impact.amp