Polypropylene microplastic particles are one of the predominant pollutants in marine and their toxic effects are unknown in aquatic biota. The study aims to prepare the spherical shaped polypropylene microplastics (size range 11.86 μm–44.62 μm) and assess their toxic effects (1, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/mL) in various life stages (nauplii, metanauplii and juvenile) of marine microcrustacean Artemia salina within 48 h. In addition, microplastics ingestion by Artemia nauplii was proved by FTIR analysis. The results revealed, microplastics accumulation in their tract leads to change in their homeostasis, as followed increase in the oxidative burst causes mortality in nauplii (LC₅₀ 40.947 μg/mL) and meta nauplii (LC₅₀ 51.954 μg/mL). In juvenile, swimming behaviour was changed. Moreover, microplastic consumption disturbs the antioxidant biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), Glutathione –S- transferase (GST) and reduces the neurotransmitter enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. In addition, histology of juvenile Artemia showed damage in epithelial cells. This study indicates that exposure to polypropylene microplastics is more harmful to zooplanktonic organisms of the marine ecosystem.

聚丙烯微塑料颗粒是海洋中的主要污染物之一，其毒性效应在水生生物群中未知。该研究旨在制备球形聚丙烯微塑料（尺寸范围 11.86 μm–44.62 μm）并评估其在不同生命阶段（无节幼体、元节幼体和幼体）的毒性作用（1、25、50、75 和 100 μg/mL）。48 小时内的海洋小甲壳动物卤虫。此外，FTIR 分析证明了卤虫无节幼体摄入微塑料。结果显示，微塑料在其肠道中的积累导致其体内平衡发生变化，随后氧化爆发的增加导致无节幼体 (LC ₅₀ 40.947 μg/mL) 和后无节幼体 (LC ₅₀51.954 微克/毫升）。在青少年时期，游泳行为发生了变化。此外，微塑料消耗会干扰抗氧化生物标志物，如超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、过氧化氢酶 (CAT)、还原型谷胱甘肽 (GSH)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶 (GST)，并降低神经递质酶乙酰胆碱酯酶 (AChE) 的活性。此外，幼年卤虫的组织学显示上皮细胞受损。这项研究表明，暴露于聚丙烯微塑料对海洋生态系统的浮游动物危害更大。