Polylactic Acid (PLA) Microplastic toxicity in C. elegans

Authors

• Maria Gamez, St. Mary's University
• Dana Farley, St. Mary's University
• Chiara Maldonado, St. Mary's University
• David Mares, St. Mary's University

Files

Contributor

Oxley, Susan (Faculty Mentor), Harr, Jennifer (Faculty Mentor)

Digital Publisher

Digital Commons at St. Mary's University

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Keywords

Polylactic Acid, Microplastics, Toxicity, C. elegans

Description

• Microplastics (MPs, > 5 mm1) are an environmental pollutant that pose health risks to humans. • Primary MPs are created for direct use or plastic stocks, and secondary MPs are created when plastics in the environment break down over time. • Microplastic exposure can cause oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues2-3. • Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable plastic used in everyday items, such as food packaging, and as a polymer in 3D printing. • PLA exposure to fish causes organ damage5 and C. elegans exposure to primary PLA MPs and UV-aged MPs reduced reproduction6-7 . • We use C. elegans to investigate the effect of cryo-milled PLA-MP exposure on fertility, development, and lifespan.

Format

PDF

Size

1 poster

City

San Antonio, Texas

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.