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Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastic variants to cyanobacteria: Evidence from algal growth, physiology and transcriptomics
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Scientists found that nanoplastics with a positive electrical charge are far more harmful to algae than neutral or negatively charged ones, damaging the algae's ability to photosynthesize and produce energy. This matters because these algae form the base of aquatic food webs, so widespread plastic pollution with certain surface charges could ripple through ecosystems—and ultimately affect the water and seafood we depend on.
Plastics are continuously discharged into the aquatic environment, and their toxicity to microalgae has attracted widespread attention. However, the toxic mechanisms of differently charged nanoplastics (NPs) remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used different types of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) with surface charges (PS-NH, PS, and PS-COOH) to investigate their toxicity and toxic mechanisms in Microcystis aeruginosa under relatively low concentration conditions (10∼20 mg L). We found that the PS-NH system can inhibit the growth, photosynthetic parameters of photosystem II and I (PSII and PSI) and reduce the ROS antioxidant system-related enzyme activity levels at relatively high concentrations, especially during the early exposure stage. Electrostatic attraction causes extensive aggregation of cationic PS-NH with algal cells, inducing lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. Detailed analysis showed that differently charged PS-NPs affected photosynthetic efficiency by damaging the electron transport and reaction center of PSII and PSI. Moreover, PS-NH had a negative impact on algal cells compared to the unmodified PS and PS-COOH. Transcriptomic analysis of M. aeruginosa suggests that photosynthesis appears to be the most sensitive metabolic pathways in response to PS-NH. In particular, genes related to photosynthesis showed altered expression upon exposure to differently charged PS-NPs. This study reveals molecular toxic mechanisms of charge-variant PS-NPs on M. aeruginosa, verifying surface charge as a key determinant of nanoplastic ecotoxicity in freshwater cyanobacteria.
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Integrated multilevel investigation of photosynthesis revealed the algal response distinction to differentially charged nanoplastics
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This study investigated how nanoplastics with different electrical charges affect algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains. Positively charged nanoplastics caused the most severe damage, disrupting photosynthesis and damaging cell structures, while neutral and negatively charged particles had milder or even stimulating effects at low levels. Since algae health directly affects the entire aquatic food web, this research helps explain how nanoplastic pollution could ripple through ecosystems and ultimately impact seafood safety.
ElectrostaticAdsorption-Driven Reorganization ofPhycosphere Eco-Corona as a Toxicity Mechanism of Cationic Nanoplastics
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can harm freshwater algae very differently depending on their electrical charge: positively charged particles caused major cell damage, oxidative stress, and killed up to nearly 90% of algae cells, while negatively charged particles were much less harmful. Since algae sit at the base of aquatic food chains, this matters because it suggests the type of plastic pollution—not just its presence—could shape how much damage spreads through ecosystems and, potentially, up the food chain to humans who rely on these waters for food and drinking supplies.
Electrostatic Adsorption-Driven Reorganization of Phycosphere Eco-Corona as a Toxicity Mechanism of Cationic Nanoplastics
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) with a positive electrical charge caused serious damage to algae — including cell death, stress, and disrupted photosynthesis — while similar particles with a negative charge were much less harmful. This matters because algae are a foundation of aquatic food webs, and since nanoplastics are increasingly found in water and food supplies, understanding which types are most toxic helps researchers predict risks to ecosystems and, potentially, to the food chain humans depend on.
Do plastic particles affect microalgal photosynthesis and growth?
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This study investigated whether polystyrene particles of different sizes and charges affect growth and photosynthesis in three marine microalgae species. The results showed that charged particles caused greater inhibition of algal growth at the lowest concentrations tested, suggesting that plastic particle charge and size influence their toxicity to primary producers at the base of marine food chains.
Functionalized nanoplastics alter physiology and toxin production in Alexandrium pacificum through surface charge effects
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Researchers tested how surface-modified nanoplastics affect the harmful algae species Alexandrium pacificum, which produces paralytic shellfish toxins. They found that amino-modified nanoplastics had greater bioavailability to the algae and altered the composition of toxins produced, while all nanoplastic types impaired photosynthesis and triggered oxidative stress. The study suggests that nanoplastic surface chemistry plays a critical role in determining how these particles interact with and affect marine microorganisms.
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