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Marine & Wildlife
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Can biodegradable plastics mitigate plastamination? Feedbacks from marine organisms
Journal of Hazardous Materials2025
12 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 68
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Giovanni Libralato
Luisa Albarano,
Francesca Biandolino,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Francesca Biandolino,
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Luisa Albarano,
Giovanni Libralato
Francesca Biandolino,
Alice Rotini,
Loredana Manfra,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Ermelinda Prato,
Francesca Biandolino,
Ermelinda Prato,
Federica Carraturo,
Alice Rotini,
Luisa Albarano,
Francesca Biandolino,
Loredana Manfra,
Andrea Tornambè,
Giovanni Libralato
Andrea Tornambè,
Alice Rotini,
Loredana Manfra,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Giovanni Libralato
Francesca Biandolino,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Alice Rotini,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Loredana Manfra,
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Loredana Manfra,
Francesca Biandolino,
Giovanni Libralato
Francesca Biandolino,
Luisa Albarano,
Giovanni Libralato
Alice Rotini,
Alice Rotini,
Loredana Manfra,
Federica Carraturo,
Francesca Biandolino,
Giovanni Libralato
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Federica Carraturo,
Loredana Manfra,
Federica Carraturo,
Michela Salamone,
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Michela Salamone,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Loredana Manfra,
Giovanni Libralato
Antonietta Siciliano,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Gianluca Chiaretti,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Gianluca Chiaretti,
Loredana Manfra,
Ermelinda Prato,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Luisa Albarano,
Giovanni Libralato
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Loredana Manfra,
Olga Faraponova,
Olga Faraponova,
Ermelinda Prato,
Giovanni Libralato
Michela Salamone,
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Claudia Sebbio,
Claudia Sebbio,
Antonietta Siciliano,
Giovanni Libralato
Andrea Tornambè,
Andrea Tornambè,
Giovanni Libralato
Giovanni Libralato
Summary
Researchers tested whether biodegradable plastics (PLA) are safer for marine life than conventional plastics (polypropylene) and found that both types caused similar toxic effects in marine animals. Both plastics triggered stress responses and cell damage in brine shrimp at multiple life stages, with more advanced stages being more sensitive. This raises doubts about whether switching to biodegradable plastics will actually reduce the harm of microplastic pollution in oceans.
The EU plastic strategy aims to reduce the environmental impact of the increasing plastic production, by replacing petrochemical-based polymers with biodegradable ones. But this mitigation measure for the plastamination might, in turn, generate bio-based microplastics in environments that are not necessarily safe. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) respectively, and their leachates were used for testing microplastic (MP) effects on seven marine species from different trophic levels, including bacteria, algae, rotifers, copepods, amphipods and branchiopods. Results highlighted the toxic effects of both MPs for three consumers, but no toxicity for decomposers and primary producers. Leachates did not induce negative effects for five species tested. A dose-dependent toxic effect of both PP and PLA on different life stages of A. franciscana was observed, with more advanced stages being more sensitive to MPs in terms of mortality. Molecular analysis revealed increased mRNA levels of Heat shock proteins in A. franciscana metanauplii and adults, suggesting their role in oxidative stress response, and decreasing in juveniles, indicating potential irreversible damage. These results indicated that PLA and PP might have comparable ecotoxicological impacts, raising concerns about the effectiveness of biodegradable polymers in mitigation plastic pollution. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering different trophic levels, life stages, and feeding strategies when evaluating the toxic effects of MPs from a One Health perspective.