Microfibers (MFs) have recently become an increasingly prevalent pollutant in ecosystems and pose a direct threat to organisms and an indirect threat via adsorption of other pollutants. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to study multigenerational effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MFs (diameter 17.4 μm) by observing the maternal generation (P0) to the seventh offspring generation (F7) with continuous MF exposure. Exposure to 250-μm PET MFs decreased locomotion behavior and induced intestinal reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the P0 generation compared with other PET MF sizes. Moreover, no notably negative effects on survival were observed in any generation during continuous exposure to 250-μm PET MFs. However, the reproduction rate clearly decreased in the F2 and F3 generations but gradually recovered in the F4–F7 generations. Developmental abnormalities showed a close relationship with body length. Although some recovery was confirmed, there were significant decreases in body length in the F2–F5 generations. Interestingly, growth inhibition was also observed in the F6 generation without MF exposure. ROS production and dermal damage in the P0–F5 generations might have resulted in the toxicological responses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide evidence of multigenerational toxicity of MFs in C. elegans.

超细纤维（MFs）最近已成为生态系统中越来越流行的污染物，对生物构成直接威胁，而通过吸收其他污染物则构成间接威胁。在这里，我们使用了秀丽隐杆线虫通过观察连续MF暴露的母体代（P0）至第七代后代（F7），研究聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）MF（直径17.4μm）的多代效应。与其他PET MF尺寸相比，暴露于250μmPET MF会降低P0代的运动行为并诱导肠道活性氧（ROS）。此外，在连续暴露于250μmPET MF的任何一代中，均未观察到对存活率的显着负面影响。但是，繁殖率在F2和F3代中明显下降，但在F4-F7代中逐渐恢复。发育异常与体长密切相关。尽管已确认有一定程度的恢复，但F2-F5代的体长显着下降。有趣的是 在没有MF暴露的F6代中也观察到生长抑制。P0–F5代中的ROS产生和皮肤损伤可能导致了毒理学反应。据我们所知，这是第一项提供MFs多代毒性证据的研究。秀丽隐杆线虫。