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Unraveling the Impact of Bio-Based Poly(lactic) Acid Microplastics on Pocillopora damicornis (Cnidaria, Scleractinia)
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Acute and multigenerational toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics on a copepod bioindicator
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Researchers discovered that polylactic acid microplastics, marketed as eco-friendly biodegradable plastics, are toxic to a key zooplankton species across multiple generations, raising concerns that "bioplastic" alternatives may not be as safe for aquatic ecosystems as widely assumed.
Multigenerational effects of polylactic acid microplastics on the microbiota of the sentinel copepod Eurytemora affinis
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Researchers exposed the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis to polylactic acid microplastics across four generations and found significant reductions in gut microbiota diversity starting in the second generation, with enrichment of plastic-degrading bacteria and altered fatty acid metabolism pathways, though the microbiome showed signs of partial recovery after one contaminant-free generation.
Experimental exposure to microplastics does not affect the physiology of healthy or moderately bleached Anomastraea irregularis and Pocillopora verrucosa corals
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A 4-week feeding experiment found that exposure to polypropylene fragments and polyester fibers at environmentally relevant concentrations did not significantly affect the physiology, growth, or tissue composition of two coral species from South Africa. Corals were able to ingest and egest most microplastics within 18 hours, suggesting short-term resilience, though longer-term or higher-concentration effects on reef ecosystems remain an important open question.
Physiological impacts of microplastics on the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: The role of particle size and concentration
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Laboratory experiments on Pacific oysters exposed to microplastics of varying sizes and concentrations found decreased survival rates, increased oxygen consumption, and histological damage to digestive and gill tissues, with effects scaling with concentration. Oysters are global seafood staples and efficient bioaccumulators, meaning physiological damage at environmentally relevant concentrations translates directly into concerns about both aquatic ecosystem health and the safety of oysters in the human diet.
Toxic effects of polylactic acid microplastics on photosynthesis and motility of Microglena sp.
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Polylactic acid microplastics — made from a supposedly biodegradable plastic — inhibited the growth, photosynthesis, and swimming ability of a marine microalgae species, with genes controlling flagella and photosynthesis both suppressed. This matters because microalgae form the base of marine food chains, and even 'eco-friendly' bioplastics can cause real ecological harm as they break down.
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