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From acute defense to prolonged metabolic homeostasis: Insights into microalgae responses to PVC microplastic exposure
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (from PVC, a common plastic) affect algae, the tiny organisms that form the base of aquatic food chains and produce much of our oxygen. They found that algae initially fight off the plastic stress using quick defense tricks, but after about 4 days, they settle into a longer-term survival mode with different chemical changes happening inside their cells. This matters because algae are essential to healthy water ecosystems and food chains—if microplastic pollution weakens them over time, it could ripple upward to affect fish populations and, ultimately, the food and water systems humans depend on.
Microplastics (MPs) persist in environment, exerting long-term stress on aquatic ecosystems. As pivotal primary producers, microalgae are highly sensitive to environmental stress, with their growth and physiology impaired by MPs. Most existing MP toxicology studies are limited to short-term exposure (< 5 days) and macroscopic microalgal physiological indicators. Here, typical aquatic microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyta) and Synechococcus sp. (Cyanophyta) were selected as test organisms to explore their response and regulatory mechanisms under acute and prolonged polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MP exposure by monitoring dynamic intracellular dissolved organic matter (IDOM) and metabolism over a 12-day culture. Acute exposure (days 0-4) induced species to resist stress via membrane lipid repair (S. obliquus) and enhanced signal transduction (Synechococcus sp.). Prolonged exposure (after day 4) presented reduced resistant levels, with these two algae exhibiting specific metabolic regulation-membrane lipid stabilization and optimized resource allocation, respectively. Divergent metabolic responses reflected species-specific differences driven by distinct cellular structures. Moreover, the transition from humic-dominant IDOM in the acute phase to protein-dominant IDOM during sustain exposure period reflected a strategic shift from rapid regulation to metabolic homeostasis, highlighting the potential of protein-like/humic-like ratio as a diagnostic proxy for algal physiological status under PVC-MP stress. This study better illustrates microalgal metabolic regulatory mechanisms on acute stress to prolonged bio-regulation under PVC-MP stress, providing clear evidence for evaluating the potential ecological impacts of MPs.
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Elucidating the cellular adaptive response of Coccomyxa sp. upon exposure to PVC-nanoplastics (PVC-NPs) for production of bioenergy molecules
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Researchers studied how the microalga Coccomyxa sp. responds at the cellular level to exposure to PVC nanoplastics. The study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of nanoplastic interactions with microalgae, which has significant ecological implications for understanding how plastic pollution affects primary producers in aquatic food webs.
Non-Homogeneous Toxicity of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on Microalgal Cells Regulated by Nutrient Availability
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Scientists found that tiny PVC plastic particles can either harm or actually boost the growth of algae — tiny organisms at the base of aquatic food chains — depending on how many nutrients are available in the water. This matters because it helps explain why microplastic pollution doesn't affect ecosystems the same way everywhere, which is important since these algae-based food webs ultimately connect to the seafood and water systems humans rely on. While this study focused on algae rather than direct human health effects, understanding how microplastics behave differently in nutrient-poor versus nutrient-rich waters (like polluted lakes versus open ocean) could
Calcium-mediated mitigation of aged nanoplastic-induced stress in microalgae: Insights into photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and antioxidant defense from physiological and multi-omics analyses
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) severely damage microalgae, which are important organisms used to clean wastewater before it enters our water supply. However, adding calcium to the water protected the microalgae from this plastic pollution and helped them continue removing harmful substances from wastewater. This research suggests calcium could help maintain clean water treatment systems even as plastic pollution increases in our environment.
From inhibition to recovery: metabolic rebound of Microcystis aeruginosa following pulse exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
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Tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can seriously damage a common algae's ability to grow and make energy, but the algae can bounce back surprisingly well once the plastics are removed. This matters because these algae are the base of aquatic food chains, so understanding their recovery helps us predict how nanoplastic pollution might affect entire ecosystems and the fish and plants we rely on for food and water quality.
Toward Ecological Realism in Microplastic-microalgae Ecotoxicology: Exposure Design, Adaptive Responses, and Ecosystem-scale Implications
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This review of existing research finds that tiny ocean algae, which produce much of the world's oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, may adapt to survive realistic microplastic pollution rather than simply being damaged by it. Since these algae form the base of the marine food web that ultimately reaches our plates, understanding how they truly respond to plastic pollution helps scientists better predict risks to ocean health and, indirectly, our own.
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