Comprehensive assessment of multiple biomarker mechanisms in the brackish water clam Corbicula japonica exposed to polystyrene microplastics using structural equation modeling.

ABSTRACT

Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we investigated multiple biomarker mechanisms in terms of biochemical and individual marker responses in the brackish water clam Corbicula japonica following acute exposure to polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP). This study is the first to comprehensively explore multiple biomarker responses in bivalves using SEM. The model revealed that PS-MP accumulation was an independent biomarker, exhibiting significant direct effects on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) among the biochemical markers. Although CAT generally interacts closely with SOD, no significant relationship was identified between them, indicating that CAT may have independently responded to PS-MP stress. Among individual markers, significant indirect effects were observed on clearance rate (CR), reflecting feeding activity and valve open rate, indicating excretion activity via SOD and CAT. Finally, the carbon-based scope for growth was significantly influenced by CR. SEM is efficient and useful for identifying significant direct and indirect pathway relationships and for uncovering uncommon relationships in unified multiple biomarker mechanisms in aquatic studies.