Acute and subchronic effects of cellulose nanofibers on histological, antioxidant, and acetylcholine responses in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Gürkan M., Ertürk Gürkan S., Güneş B., Sarıtunç V.

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENTALISTS, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, ADMINISTRATORS, POLITICIANS AND LAWYERS, sa.223, ss.1-12, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

The utilisation of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) in industrial applications has seen a marked increase, giving rise to

concerns regarding their potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The present study evaluated the acute (96 h)

and sub-chronic (14 days) effects of CNFs at environmentally relevant concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 μg/L)

on the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), a species of particular importance in marine food webs. A

comprehensive analysis of the Gill and mantle tissues was conducted to ascertain any potential histopathological

alterations or antioxidant responses. This analysis encompassed the measurement of superoxide dismutase

(SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, along with the assessment of acetylcholinesterase

(AChE) activity in the mantle tissue. This approach was undertaken to evaluate the potential for

neurotoxic effects. CNF exposure has been demonstrated to induce histological changes, including epithelial

deformation and hemocyte infiltration, indicating oxidative damage and activation of cellular defense mechanisms.

Oxidative stress parameters demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species

(ROS) under both exposure durations. AChE activity also increased, likely reflecting a compensatory response to

maintain neural homeostasis. The results demonstrate that CNFs trigger coordinated antioxidant and neuroregulatory

responses in M. galloprovincialis, with effects becoming more pronounced at higher concentrations and

longer exposures. These findings emphasise the potential for sub-lethal effects on marine bivalves even from

biodegradable nanomaterials, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive ecotoxicological assessment of

nanoscale cellulose in aquatic environments and highlighting the broader implications for environmental

management, regulatory policies, and safe application of nanocellulose-based products.