We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
ET&C Best Paper of 2025
AI summary Read the abstract
Award-winning research found that a common pesticide and tiny plastic fibers from clothing (microplastics) can each harm the development of baby sunflower sea stars — an endangered ocean species — and the effects may be even worse when both pollutants are present together. While this study looked at sea creatures rather than people, it's a reminder that the pesticides and plastic fibers we use daily are ending up in oceans and potentially harming wildlife in combination, which matters for the health of ecosystems we ultimately depend on.
DOI: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf039 The 2025 Best Paper Award is presented to Alexandra Tissot and colleagues for their article “The effects of imidacloprid and polyester microfibers on the larval development of the endangered sunflower star.” This study stands out for its timely and impactful contribution to our understanding of how multiple anthropogenic stressors affect vulnerable marine species. Focusing on the endangered sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), the authors examine how environmentally relevant levels of two highly relevant anthropogenic stressors, a widely used pesticide and microplastic fibers influence early life stages. Importantly, the work goes beyond single-stressor approaches, studying how combined exposures can shape developmental outcomes. The paper is particularly interesting for its relevance to ongoing conservation and restoration efforts, by specifically focusing on an endangered species that is often not considered in ecotoxicology studies. The results also support conservation efforts where early life-stage survival and larvae settlement are essential for success. By linking contaminant exposure to subtle yet meaningful biological responses at early life stages, this study provides valuable insights for risk assessment and ecosystem management. Overall, this work applies a complex and solid multi-stressor design with clear environmental significance, making it a deserving recipient of the 2025 Best Paper Award. Best Paper Award winner Alexandra G. Tissot.
More Papers Like This
Best Paper Award
AI summary Read the abstract
This award citation recognizes a study on mechanistic modeling of pesticide exposure in honey bees. While unrelated to microplastics, it illustrates how mechanistic exposure modeling — also used in microplastic risk assessment — is important for connecting environmental concentrations of pollutants to biological impacts.
The effects of imidacloprid and polyester microfibers on the larval development of the endangered sunflower star.
AI summary Read the abstract
The endangered sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) larvae exposed to both imidacloprid (a pesticide) and polyester microfibers showed impaired larval development, with combined stressors producing additive effects. The findings raised concerns for sea star population recovery given the prevalence of these contaminants in coastal waters.
Interactive effects of triclosan, microplastic vectors, and ocean warming–acidification on sea urchin embryo development
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that a common antibacterial chemical (triclosan, found in some soaps and personal care products) becomes far more harmful to baby sea urchins when combined with microplastics and more acidic ocean water — conditions expected to worsen with climate change. This matters because it shows pollution and climate change can team up in unpredictable ways to damage marine life development, which could ripple through ocean food chains that humans depend on for seafood. While this study looked at sea urchins rather than people, it's a reminder that the chemicals and plastics we release into water don't act alone — their combined effects on ecosystems (and potentially our food supply
Single and combined chronic toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNP) and clothianidin on collembolans and enchytraeids
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles and a common pesticide affect soil creatures that are important for healthy ecosystems. They found that when these two pollutants are combined, they become more harmful than when alone - even at levels that seemed safe individually. This matters because humans are also exposed to both microplastics and pesticides in our food and environment, suggesting these combinations could pose greater health risks than we previously understood.
Developmental and biochemical markers of the impact of pollutant mixtures under the effect of Global Climate Change
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics combined with the pesticide Chlorpyriphos affect sea urchin larvae under simulated ocean warming and acidification conditions. They found that the combination of these stressors caused significant developmental abnormalities and signs of oxidative stress in the larvae. The study suggests that the real-world cocktail of pollutants and climate change may be more harmful to marine life than any single stressor alone.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.