Spray paint-derived microplastics and incorporated substances as ecotoxicological contaminants in the neotropical bumblebee Bombus atratus

While bumblebees may be exposed to microplastics (MPs), the effects on them are not well studied. Therefore, in this research, we assessed the cytotoxicity of pristine and photodegraded spray paint-derived MPs on the midgut, Malpighian tubules, and hepato-nephrocitic system cells of Bombus atratus workers exposed to 50 mg.L−1 MPs for 96 hours. Histological and histochemical analyses revealed that pristine MPs caused subtle cellular changes, while the exposure to photodegraded MPs led to significant vacuolization, nuclear condensation, and pyknosis. These effects are possibly linked to the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) like Copper, Manganese, and Iron from photodegraded MPs, which exceeded Brazil's CONAMA safety limits. Photodegraded MPs also reduced body weight, disrupting homeostasis and potentially decreasing bumblebee’s fitness. These findings highlight the importance of studying the toxicity of environmentally realistic MPs, as plastic composition and weathering significantly influence their harmful effects. [Display omitted] •Photodegraded MPs are more harmful to Bombus atratus bumblebees than pristine MPs.•The exposure to photodegraded MPs induced cytotoxicity in all the studied tissues.•Collumnar cells exposed to MPs showed reduced nuclear areas and less spherocrystals.•The hepato-nephrocytic cells exposed to photodegraded MPs exhibited higher areas.•Bees exposed to photodegraded MPs experienced a significant decrease in body mass.