The impacts of PVC microplastics on physiology and transcriptomic responses of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

The emergence and increasing prevalence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics in marine ecosystems have raised alarms about their potential effects on marine organisms, such as the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii, also referred to as Pinctada imbricata. This research aimed at exploring the impact of PVC microplastic exposure on the physiology, pearl formation, and transcriptomic response of Pinctada imbricata.The pearl oysters were divided into four groups: a control group with 0 mg/L PVC microplastics (C4) and three groups with different concentrations of PVC microplastics; 1 mg/L for (C1), 0.25 mg/L (C2), and 5 mg/L (C3). The transcriptomic responses were examined in the C1 and C3 groups after 1 day (1 d) and 10 days (10 d) of PVC microplastics exposure, as well as following a 6-day depuration period (16 d).In our study on gene expressions in pearl oysters exposed to PVC microplastics and during the subsequent recovery period, we have gained valuable understanding of how these microplastics impact the biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components within the oysters. Our exploration of the transcriptomic responses of pearl oysters to PVC microplastics has revealed the potential mechanisms of toxicity and stress that PVC microplastics could induce to marine organisms, in particular the Pinctada imbricata.